(New Buffalo, MI) - An upset appeared in the making early for the New Buffalo High School girls’ volleyball team ousted from the District 4 tournament.

 

The Lady Bison were defeated in four sets on November 4 by Michigan Lutheran in the district tournament semi-finals at Michigan Lutheran.

 

New Buffalo (14-16-2) won the first set 25-21. However, the Titans dominated the following three sets 25-13, 25-13, and 25-12.

 

New Buffalo Head Coach Bruce Molineaux said his team seemed more ready to play at the start of the match but couldn’t keep up when Michigan Lutheran became more focused.

 

“I think that talent took over,” he said.

Michigan Lutheran went on to win the District 4 championship over River Valley.

 

Jane Funk led all servers for the Lady Bison with five kills, while Shannon Dewit contributed four kills. Amanda Jones and Ava Johnson contributed three kills apiece. Johnson also dished out a team-leading 12 assists. Jones led all New Buffalo defenders with 19 digs, which are successful returns of a ball spiked by the opposition. Dewit and Liz Schrock each recorded nine and eight digs, respectively, for the Lady Bison.

 

“The kids played hard. There wasn’t any giving up in them. Even though we were behind, they were hustling to the ball.  We just couldn’t get any real offense to turn the tide,” he said.

Molineaux said the team had a good season considering two strong players from last year’s District championship squad, Kelsey Corkran and Eva Mullen, transferring to other schools before the season.

 

He also had just one returning player.

 

Molineaux said the prospects next year look promising, with almost every player expected to return and several newcomers on the junior varsity squad expected to compete for starting positions.

 

“Hopefully, the kids will do some work in the offseason.  I think I have five or six kids who are going to play club ball. I just got to get more production out of my outside hitters that’s all,” he said.