The Saline Reporter
A Heritage Newspaper
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Hornets look to finish stronger
Saline competes against state's best at East Kentwood Invite
By Jerry Hinnen, Staff Writer
PUBLISHED: January 18, 2007
Members of the Saline High School volleyball team showed during this past week of play that they understand how to start a match strong.
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Unfortunately for the Hornets, finishing strong was another matter. Saline lost a 2-0 lead to fall to rival Ann Arbor Pioneer in five games Thursday, and dropped three deciding third games Saturday at the East Kentwood Invitational.
The good news, said coach Courtney Huffman, is that if the Hornets can improve their late-match focus, the team will be in good shape as it enters the second half of the season.
"Our consistency just needs to get better," Huffman said following the Kentwood tournament. "They want to win so bad. We have to stay consistent, stay focused. We're still getting into that mentality where we close out matches. They just need to keep pushing."
The Hornets had handed Pioneer a quick 2-0 defeat in the best-of-three Bedford Tournament earlier in the season and looked to be on their way to a similar result at home Thursday, winning Game 1 comfortably, 25-16, and powering through to a 25-21 win in Game 2.
But Pioneer fought back in Game 3, extending the match with a 25-18 win. Saline improved its play in Game 4, but the Pioneers were able to pull out a tense 25-23 win to tie the match at two games each. Having firmly seized the momentum, the visitors went on to win Game 5 in decisive fashion, 15-7, to claim the victory.
Nicole Whiddon and Kelsi Bitter each recorded 11 kills to lead the Hornet attack, while Sarah Cowen and Kara Zawsiza notched 14 and 13 digs, respectively, to help the Hornet defensive effort.
Huffman was happier with her team's effort in a loaded field at East Kentwood, the defending state champions. Saline took their opener over forest Hills Central 25-21 and 25-16, but would drop their next four. In pool play, Holland Christian defeated the Hornets 20-25, 25-8, 15-11, Rockford edged by 18-25, 25-18, and 15-13, and state power Jenison won 25-14 and 25-18.
Facing Anchor Bay in an elimination game, Saline battled back after a 20-25 Game 1 loss to win Game 2 25-19 and force a Game 3. Anchor Bay prevailed, 15-12, but the resolve shown ended the Hornets' day on a positive note.
"We did better. I thought we fought better throughout the tournament," Huffman said. "It was a really rough tournament and you had to have your 'A' game … To see that caliber of play is a very good experience. Those are the kinds of teams we're going to see at districts and regionals. It's going to pay off down the road."
Whiddon again led Saline with 35 kills on the day and made only five hitting errors on 71 attempts while adding a team-high seven solo blocks. Bitter contributed 17 kills and 13 assisted blocks. Jen Galbreath picked up 36 digs on the day with Jena Cooper adding 25. Setter Katie Stone finished the day with 87 assists.
Saline's next match will come at home Thursday against Tecumseh.
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