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	The Manchester Enterprise A Heritage Newspaper Weekly Publication

Dutch take fourth at Cascades tournament

Spikers finish with split tune up for district play

By Ed Patino, Staff Writer

PUBLISHED: March 1, 2007

The Manchester varsity volleyball team caught a glimpse of its bright spots and what it needs to shore up to make a run in the Class C state playoffs.

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The Flying Dutch posted a 2-2 record and took fourth place at the Cascades Conference tournament last Thursday at Michigan Center High School.

Hanover-Horton went undefeated on the night to win the tournament. The Comets defeated second-place Napoleon twice, including the finals. Host Michigan Center finished 3-2 and placed third.

Manchester advanced to the fourth round of the double-elimination tournament, where it was eliminated by a 15-12, 15-9 loss to the host Cardinals.

After opening with a 15-8, 9-15, 15-13 loss to Vandercook Lake, the Flying Dutch swept past Grass Lake 15-9, 15-13, and gained revenge with a 15-12, 15-9 victory over the Jayhawks.

The tournament marked the first appearance by Manchester volleyball coach Mike Mininger since his heart surgery Feb. 5. Mininger watched from the stands as Rachel Heinrich and Kim Meyer, two of his players from Siena Heights University, coached the team.

"Overall, it was a pretty good day," Meyer said. "We had a lot of strong points, but it also showed what we need to work on."

In the first game against Michigan Center, a block by Julie Fischer pulled the Dutch into a 5-5 tie. The Cardinals inched ahead as Barbara Clayborn served three straight points. Chelsea Petersen then slammed a kill, giving Michigan Center a 12-8 lead. After an exchange of points, Haleigh Crouch delivered a kill to end the game.

Michigan Center picked up where it left off in the second game, racing to a 6-0 lead with Brianna Poole serving. Hannah Caszatt got the Dutch back into it by serving three straight points, then Fielder and Amanda Pratt blasted consecutive kills, pulling Manchester to within 10-8.

The Cardinals pulled away with a late run, capped by Kelly Cannon's kill and Petersen's block.

Manchester recovered from an opening round loss to Vandercook Lake by downing Grass Lake in straight games. The teams exchanged points throughout the second game. Ally Way served an ace, giving the Dutch a 13-12 lead, but Michelle Crouch answered with a kill for the Warriors. Caszatt regained the lead for the Dutch with a kill, then Way tapped over a point to end the match.

"We had good serve reception and our defense was good today," Heinrich said.

The Dutch got another shot at Vandercook Lake in the third round. The Jayhawks built a 7-3 lead in the first game, but Manchester took control later with six straight points.

A kill by Stacey Volk and consecutive kills by Pratt pulled Manchester into an 8-8 tie. Amanda Mutchler then tapped over a point, giving her team the lead. Fielder served two more points, making it 11-8.

"The girls played hard and stepped up the second time against Vandy," Meyer said.

The Dutch scored the first six points of the second game, with Way serving and Fielder blasting a pair of kills. Manchester never let the Jayhawks back into the game, and a pair of net violations against Vandercook ended the match.

"To come back against Vandercook was a good win," Heinrich said. "We've been coaching the girls for a month, and they're a good group. They're accepting us and adjusting well."

Fielder had 16 kills and eight digs on the night to lead the Dutch. Mutchler added nine kills and four blocks, while Volk had seven kills. Shanel Mullins made 23 digs, Laura Coltre had eight digs and Crystal Poertner recorded seven digs. Way set up 32 assists and made 10 digs for Manchester.

The Dutch opened Class C district play last night at Adrian Madison with a pre-district match against Ann Arbor Gabriel Richard. If successful, Manchester will face Whitmore Lake in the semifinals Saturday morning. The district final is scheduled Saturday afternoon.

Staff Writer Ed Patino can be reached at 428-8173 or epatino@heritage.com.