Vikings clinch first-ever North Star League

by Peter Jakey, Managing Editor

It wasn?t a typical two-hour drive home from Au Gres-Sims High School Tuesday night for the Posen volleyball team. For the first time in school history the players had earned themselves a North Star League (NSL) championship.

The Vikings clinched the league crown Tuesday in their second to last NSL tilt. The girls won much the way they have taken care of a lot of opponents this season: with a sweep. Their record is 12-1 in the league and 16-1 overall. The scores against Au Gres were 25-15, 25-20 and 25-15. They also knocked off Arenac Eastern and Atlanta going into Tuesday?s match. The girls did a little celebrating in the locker room at Au Gres, but head coach John Dietlin is trying to keep them focused and geared up for the playoffs that get started next week. ?They can take a sense of pride in the accomplishment,? said Dietlin. It is officially the 10th season of Posen volleyball. THE SCHEDULE has been a busy one for the squad with a county battle Wednesday (past press time) in Onaway. State ranked Onaway hosting and former volleyball power Rogers City will be there as well.

Tonight is parents? night against Fairview and then the district tournament gets underway, which have undergone a format change. Instead of a one-day Saturday tournament the matches are spread out throughout the week. The Vikings will need to win three matches to claim another piece of history: their first ever district title. The girls take on Fairview in Atlanta Monday at 7 p.m. in hopes of meeting Hillman next Wednesday. The district final is next Thursday. IN THE title clinching match, Nicole Purol had 10 kills, while Tina Mulka had five aces and nine assists. Cheryl Romel had 12 digs. The scores against Arenac were 25-6, 25-8 and 25-15

. They played like a well-oiled machine in the first two games. Arenac put up some fight in the third game, but still couldn?t keep up. Emily Smolinski played exceptional with five kills, while Janice Ciarkowski had seven kills, five digs and four aces. Purol, who has to be a candidate for league most valuable player, had nine kills. Cheryl Romel had five digs, three aces and six assists. Tina Mulka quietly led the team with nine assists. Last Thursday, the girls took care of business in the second go around with Atlanta by scores of 25-15, 25-18 and 25-16. They are the only school to hand Posen a loss in 2008.

Dietlin hopes the tough stretch of games will have his players ready for the next big test, and if they keep playing they way they?ve been playing, the coach believes there will be another trophy coming their way in the immediate future. THE JUNIOR varsity swept Areanc 25-5, 25-13 and 15-8. Stats follow: LeAnne Buczkowski nine aces and two assists; Lindsey Bartz two kills; Judy Romel two kills; LeAnn Strzelecki five aces; and Emily Delekta four assists. The girls swept Atlanta 25-17, 25-18 and 15-7. April Miller had five kills, Strzelecki 11 aces; Lindsay Ponik five assists; and Tracy Mulka three aces. Against Mio October 16, the Vikes lost the first two before coming back and winning the last game. Bartz had six kills, while Delekta added five assists. Strzelecki had four aces.