What better way is there to end the regular season than a win over an intra-county rival?

The Leland and Suttons Bay volleyball teams have faced each other at least four times this season, with Suttons Bay winning each time. On Monday night, it was the Comets’ turn as Leland downed the host Norse, 25-19, 25-15 in a three-team meet. Harbor Light Christian beat Leland, 17-25, 25-20, 4-15, but Suttons Bay downed the Swordsmen, 25-13, 18-25, 15-11.

“We took two of three from Harbor Light, Leland took two of three from us and Harbor Light took two of three from Leland, so we were all even by the end of the night,” said Suttons Bay coach Mike Kelly.

Leland coach Angie Shinos said the win over Suttons Bay was a bit of a relief for her team.
“Each game we’ve played against Suttons Bay we have gotten a little bit better. On Monday, we had a great match against a very good team and came out on top,” she said. Shinos attributed the win to aggressive serving and good back-row play from Haley Versnyder, Erica Breen and Erin Sneed.

“Haley played some phenomenal defense. She covered the floor very well,” Shinos said.
For the night, Breen had 16 kills, 3 aces, 3 blocks, 9 digs to lead the Comets. Julianna Lisuk had 11 kills, 2 blocks, 4 digs; Sarah Ruszel had 14 kills, 2 blocks, 2 digs; Sneed had 5 kills, 22 assists, 4 aces, 13 digs; Molly Harrison had 28 assists, 8 digs; Sammie Nowak had 1 kill, 4 blocks; and Versnyder had 26 digs.

For Suttons Bay, Maggie Walters had 17 kills, 2 blocks; Charlotte Stowe had 20 digs, 2 aces; Crystal Dittrich had 3 aces, 15 digs; Anna Pryor had 31 assists, 7 digs; Arianna Guillen had 2 aces, 2 digs; Fran Belanger had 4 kills, 10 digs; Kelly Kerr had 10 kills, 2 digs; Lena Knoll had 6 kills; and Emily Send had 4 kills, 2 digs.

The Northport volleyball team went to Buckley looking for its eighth win of the season, but the Bears were not accommodating as they won, 25-21, 17-25, 25-19, 25-19. Coach Kristi Fischer said the Wildcats came close, but not close enough. “We were right in there in each game, but Buckley had just a little bit more,” she said.

Northport was without its two starting setters. Mariah Crowgey was out sick and Shauna Sitarek is on a family vacation. Fischer called up freshman Aliah Tompkins to help out Kelly Fischer with the setter position. “Both Aliah and Kelly did very well,” she said.

Octavia Buss had 10 digs, 2 kills; Emily Stowe had 8 digs, 5 aces, 6 kills; Fischer had 6 digs, 11 assists, 3 aces; Kristina Leabo had 4 aces, 4 kills; Betsy Shiner had 3 kills, 3 blocks, 1 ace; and Tompkins had 4 digs, 4 assists, 2 aces.

Coach Fischer said the team is looking forward to playing Traverse City Christian on Saturday at the Class D District in Leland.

“We’ve played each so much this season. We’ve been getting closer and closer to them with each match. I’m curious to see how we play against them,” she said.