Posen extends winning streak to 17 straight

by Peter Jakey, Managing Editor

The Viking volleyball team has a firm grip on first place with the second half of the North Star League schedule getting under way Tuesday with a three game sweep of Hale. The match was moved from Thursday with the football team heading for Flint today. Posen continues to cement their 8-0-conference record. They ended the first half of league competition with a three game sweep at home against Fairview and continued their winning ways this week.

The Vikes extended their season long winning streak to nine and now have won 17 consecutive games dating back to the Hillman match when they dropped game two. The Mackinac Island Tournament is next on the schedule Saturday and will be followed by a road trip Tuesday to Twining. AGAINST HALE, the Vikings dominated the visitors in a 25-15 win to open the night, but let the Eagles get away from them in game two after the score was 11-11. Hale went on a 8-2 run.

The red and white stormed back to tie the game at 20. At 23-all, Tracy Mulka served an ace for the go ahead point and Hale used four hits to get the ball over, bringing the game to an end, 25-23. Game three had the best start of the night for Posen at 8-0. Hale fought back to make things interesting and got within two, 17-15.

A timeout by head coach John Dietlin helped the girls get refocused and they did the rest. Lindsay Ponik went to the serving line and sparked a 6-0 run, with two aces mixed in. The match clincher came on a blast from Leanne Buczkowski, who ended the night with five kills.

Dietlin said the girls played 62 of the 75 points really well, but need to clean up the other 13 points, so there are things to work on even though the girls haven?

t lost a match since the 2008 regional tournament. CHERYL ROMEL set up 10 points, while Janice Ciarkowski delivered a team-best eight kills. Lindsey Bartz added four. A week ago today, the Vikings played their best match of the season, according to their coach, in putting away Fairview in three straight, 25-12, 11, 11. “We put together three wonderful played games,” said Dietlin. Ciarkowski had seven kills, while Buczkowski added six. Cheryl Romel helped out with 13 assists. THE JUNIOR varsity swept Fairview last Thursday at Au Gres September 29. The scores against Fairview were 25-12, 12, 11.

Anna Couture had seven ace serves and three assists, while Emily Delekta came up with four assists and two kills. Kari Ataman came through with three kills and Judy Romel contributed two aces and two kills. The final tallies against Au Gres were 25-10, 12, 11. Stats follow: Paige Lewandowski eight aces, two digs, one kill; Gabby Rauls five aces, one kill; Delekta four aces, four assists; Couture three assists, three aces, one kill.