For the first time since 2007, Suttons Bay has won a share of the Northwest Conference championship, after storming through the regular season with an 18-2 record.
“I am so proud of these girls,” Suttons Bay coach Olivia Dohm said. “They have worked in the off-season and during the season to put forth their best effort; it’s going to show we have a really talented bunch of girls.”
The Norse clinched a share of the conference championship after defeating Bear Lake last week. Suttons Bay shares the championship with Buckley for its first since the 2007 season.
Suttons Bay senior Megan U’Ren believes that leadership has helped the team earn the conference championship by helping those who are still learning. Sophomore Ava Anderson credits the team’s bond and ability to trust each other for the successful season.
“We work every day at practice, and we have our silly moments,” Anderson said. “Our bond as a team helps us strive because we really trust each other on and off the court.”
The 2025 Suttons Bay team is giving flashbacks to the dominant era that Suttons Bay experienced throughout the early 2000s, which included back-toback conference championships. The 2006-07 Norse went on to win four straight district championship from 2003-07, which was led by former coach Mike Kelly, along with an incredible team of Anna Pryor, Fran Belanger, Crystal Dittrich, Arianna Guillen, Kelly Kerr, Lena Knoll, Maggie Walters, Emily Seeley, to name a few of the 2007 members.
Dohm credits each member of the current team with their ability to hold one another accountable, along with being coachable and willing to correct mistakes.
“They have been able to see what they have messed up on and they can make the change needed that helps make us better as a team,” Dohm said.
Although nobody had Suttons Bay on their radar to begin the season, they sure do now.
The Norse didn’t suffer the first loss until late in September against Onekama, and last week dropped its second loss of the year against TC St. Francis.
The Norse hosts a Leelanau quad competition against Leland, Lake Leelanau St. Mary, and Glen Lake today for one of the final regular-season games of the season, before districts start at the beginning of November.
Suttons Bay traveled to Grand Traverse Academy Tuesday, earning the easy sweep 25-10, 25-9, 25-11 to earn their 18th win of the season.
Norse swept the Mustangs in three sets to earn their 18th win of the season.
“We maintained our level of play,” U’Ren said.
Lakers win
Frankfort tournament
Glen Lake volleyball took care of business at the Frankfort tournament Saturday.
“All the hard work they put into this day, both mentally and physically,” Glen Lake coach Stephany Peplinski said.
Glen Lake opened pool play against Kalkaska, dropping the first set (21-25) but winning the second (25-20), earning a split.
Their second match-up was against Bear Lake, with the Lakers winning both sets, 25-10 and 25-19. Their final matchup in pool play was against McBain, a conference opponent, which they won (26-24, 26-24).
After only losing one set in the pool play, Glen Lake took on Forest Area in its first bracket play game. The Lakers only gave up 18 points (25-15, 25-3) in two matches, sending them to the next round to play Kalkaska again.
The Lakers won the first set this time (25-20), but dropped the second (14-25) against Kalkaska, forcing a winnertakes-all set. Glen Lake earned the win 15-7, sending the Lakers to the championship to play Frankfort.
The Lakers won the Championship in two sets (2519, 25-21). The Lakers only dropped two sets during the entire invitational, both to Kalkaska. Delanie Dembowske led the Lakers with 34 kills, followed by Lydia Fosmore with 32. Trinity Claridge had 49 assists, and Fosmore had 41. Fosmore and Scarlett Vanderlinde both did excellent serving, with Fosmore going 31/34 with five aces and Vanderlinde going 46/50. On the defensive side, Olivia Reed had 71 digs and Nora Ciolek had 49.
“After a great day of competition, we not only had a great time on the court but also came out on top with the win,” Peplinski said.
