(New Buffalo, MI) - The New Buffalo High School girls’ volleyball team brought home a tournament championship after finishing two previous tourneys in second place.
The Lady Bison defeated Berrien Springs 25-23 and 25-19 in the championship match on Saturday, September 21 at Bridgman.
New Buffalo (14-5-3) was led on offense by Benita Puskinigus, who had 21 kills at the net and 18 aces on the serve throughout the tournament.
Riley Tertel had 14 kills and 21 aces to go with 58 assists as the team’s setter.
Cassidy Saunders made a significant contribution on offense and defense with 21 kills, 10 aces and 52 digs. Meagan Fatter also came up big on defense with 49 digs to along with seven aces on the serve.
Head Coach Bruce Molineaux said the team with nearly every player learning new positions because of the unexpected losses of two key starters from last year’s squad continues to progress a bit faster than he originally expected.
“We’re getting better and that’s what you want to do as the season goes on,” he said.
During the tournament, Molineaux said there was improved play from the already solid defense while the offense continued to make fewer mistakes.
The team also continued to serve well.
Molineaux said the team keeps making up for lack of height at the net with accurate returns to keep the ball in play until an opportunity presents itself to score.
“Our hitters, they don’t super pound the ball but they kept it in, moved it around and kept the other team off balance,” he said.
Molineaux said he’s very pleased and no longer surprised at how well the team is performing because the season is slightly half way over and they keep proving themselves.
“The team has pretty much got its identity right now and hopefully we can continue that,” he said.
Josie Humphrey recorded 19 kills and eight aces during the tourney. Other major contributors included Nicky Durham, who had 17 kills and six aces, and Nicole Semmenchuck and Angela Tierney with 22 digs and 17 digs respectively.
Molineaux said he’s anxious to see how the team performs against who he feels will be the biggest test, Our Lady of the Lake Catholic.
OLLC has only one loss this season and that was to No. 5 ranked Mendon.
