| 09.20.08 -
Revenge was sweet
for the Foresters as they avenged two earlier losses on their way to
winning the Manchester Pizza Hut Tournament with a perfect 4-0
record.
HU opened the
tournament with a 25-14, 25-9, 23-25, 25-15 win over the host
Spartans. Alyssa Schroeder dished out 44 assists and three of
the Forester hitters reaped the benefits. Natalie Villwock led
the team with 15 kills and she added 10 digs and four blocks.
Brittney Smelser contributed 11 kills and team-highs of 19 digs and
four aces. Kristen Spearman finished with nine kills and a
team-leading eight blocks.
"This was
probably one of most consistent matches we've played all year, with
the exception of game three," said Coach Schroeder. "Manchester
could not stop our offense."
In their second
match, the Foresters completely dominated Calumet College of St.
Joseph with a 25-15, 25-8, 25-7 rout. Kayley Cervenka had
eight kills to lead the team. Schroeder finished with 24 assists.
Rebekah Brown tallied four blocks. Chelsey Melvin had a
team-high seven digs and Amanda Meyers led the team with six aces.
Saturday was a
day of grudge matches. First HU faced Goshen, who knocked off
the Foresters in five games just four days earlier. HU turned
the tide on the Maple Leafs and got its own five game win 15-25,
20-25, 25-16, 25-23, 15-10.
Schroeder
provided a huge spark for the Foresters leading the team in assists
with 30, aces with nine and blocks with five. Smelser took
team-high honors with 13 kills and Melvin had 11 digs.
"Alyssa was our
player of the game," said Coach Schroeder. "She did a fabulous job
of running the offense."
In HU's final
match of the tournament, the Foresters had another opportunity for
revenge against Alma College who had beaten them in three straight
last weekend in Defiance, Ohio. HU battled and finally
overcame with a 24-26, 25-23, 25-24, 11-25, 15-23 victory over the
Scots.
"We got off to
our usual slow start, but played well enough to win," said Coach
Schroeder. "After our long battle with Goshen, we struggled to
keep our intensity and play consistent."
Schroeder had
another big match with 48 assists, 12 digs and three blocks.
Smelser put down 21 kills and Villwock chipped in 12 kills, four
blocks and team-leading 18 digs and five aces.
Villwock was
named the Tournament's Most Valuable Player and Smelser joined her
on the All-Tournament team.
With the four wins,
the Foresters improve to 10-6 on the season. |
