County spirit: Comets cheer on Norse at Kingsley.

If you need proof that Leelanau County is a close-knit community, look no further than Saturday’s Class C Regional volleyball match that featured Suttons Bay against McBain. Sitting right behind the Norse bench in the stands at Kingsley High School was most of the Leland volleyball team, whose season came to a close two weeks ago.

Not only did the Comets cheer on their cross-county rivals, many also wore red and white to support the Bay in what was ultimately a losing effort. After the match ended, the Comet players climbed into Chuck Valleau’s vehicle to head down to Michigan State University to watch former Leland standout Alisha Glass and her No. 1-ranked Penn State Nittany Lions take on the Spartans in women’s volleyball.

Penn State won in three games, 30-27, 30-21, 30-24 to improve to 16-0 in the Big Ten, 24-2 overall. Glass had 49 assists during the match.
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Former Glen Lake player Dana Westover began her senior year on the Central Michigan University women’s basketball team on a winning note.

Westover and the Chippewas defeated Illinois-Chicago Friday, 76-71. Westover, a 6-foot-2 forward, started for CMU and had five points, three rebounds and a steal. On Monday, the Chippewas fell to Temple, 83-45. Westover again started and had 4 points and two rebounds.

On Nov. 4, CMU defeated Aquinas College in an exhibition game, 83-71. Westover had a “double-double” for the Chippewas with 11 points and 10 rebounds. CMU returns to action with home games Saturday against Chicago State and Tuesday against Notre Dame.
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With Suttons Bay’s elimination from the volleyball Regional, fall high school sports are now officially over in the county. Look for our preview of the county’s girls’ basketball teams in next week’s edition.

This year’s winter season will mark the first time that boys’ and girls’ prep basketball will be played at the same time. Some sports, like girls’ basketball and volleyball, were moved to different seasons through a court-ordered ruling involving gender equity.
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Tickets can still be reserved for the Glen Lake vs. Buckley high school boys’ and girls’ varsity basketball games on Jan. 25 at the Palace of Auburn Hills.

The girls will play at 2 p.m., the boys follow at 4:15 p.m., then it’s the Detroit Pistons vs. the Orlando Magic at 8 p.m. Tickets are $35 per person and are good for all three games.

For more information, call Glen Lake athletic director Paul Christiansen at 334-3061.
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Traverse Area Recreation and Transportation (TART) Trails will host its second “Turkey TART” 5K fun run on Thanksgiving morning.

The Nov. 22 event is a fundraiser for the Boardman Lake Trail, and will begin at the old railroad depot in Traverse City near Eighth Street and Woodmere Ave. Registration begins at 8 a.m. and the run/walk starts at 8:30 a.m.

The cost is $20 per adult; children and students will compete for free. For more information, visit www.traversetrails.org.

TART Trails is a network of four trail systems, including the Leelanau Trail.