Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
NORTH MANCHESTER - Heading into the Manchester Tournament Saturday, Valley's volleyball team had already set a school record by winning four straight matches to start the season.
By the time the Vikings met the Squires in the last round, Valley had improved that streak to six with wins over Triton and Caston. The Vikings looked like a solid bet to win the event as the only undefeated team left. Manchester had already lost to Triton in straight sets and seemed to be the underdog, even with the home court advantage.
However, the Squires had other plans and beat Valley 15-10, 15-2. With a Triton win over Caston, there was a three-way tie for first with Manchester, Valley and Triton all at 2-1. The Squires then won the tournament by virtue of the tie-breaker, fewest points allowed throughout the day.
"All of the goals we set as a team are still intact," Valley head coach Jon Parker said. "We wanted to win a couple of tournaments and it would have been nice to win here today. I'm still very proud of the girls and where they're at."
In the Manchester/Valley matchup, the Squires took over after a 4-4 tie in game one and scored nine consecutive points. The Vikings fought back to close the deficit but Manchester put the match away as Jessica Hicks got a kill and Valley's Tiffany Cunningham hit a shot into the net.
Game two was even early on as the Vikings and Squires were tied 2-2. However, Manchester's service game befuddled Valley and the Squires scored 13 points without recording an assist or a kill. Manchester did record nine aces, including five in a row from Hicks at one point.
The Squires needed to win by as much as #they did because they allowed 61 points in the tournament. Triton actually slid into the second place spot by allowing just 62 points with dominating wins over both Manchester and Caston. Valley allowed 76 points to finish third. Caston ended winless and in fourth place.
Valley's Brooke Fisher was named Most Valuable Player of the tournament with 17 kills, 13 points serving and 21-of-24 receiving. The Vikings also got 38 assists from Rhonda Doud and an impressive 42-of-42 serving and 13 aces from Inga Vandermark.
Triton was led by Kendra Blackford, who had 42 assists and seven aces. Jamey Bell had 14 kills and 17 blocks.
Manchester will host Wawasee Tuesday at 6 p.m. Valley (6-1) will be at Pioneer Wednesday at 6 p.m. and Triton (6-3) will be at Plymouth today at 6 p.m.
MANCHESTER TOURNAMENT
Match Results - Valley over Caston 15-6, 15-7; Valley over Triton 15-6, 8-15, 15-12; Manchester over Valley 15-10, 15-2; Triton over Manchester 15-3, 15-4; Triton over Caston 15-4, 15-13; Manchester over Caston 15-6, 15-13
Final placing - 1. Manchester 2-1, 2. Triton 2-1, 3. Valley 2-1, 4. Caston 0-3
MVP - Brooke Fisher (Valley)
Valley (6-1) stats - Inga Vandermark 42-of-42 serving, 13 aces; Amy Nellans 7 aces, 15 points; Carissa Parker 6-of-6 serving; Rhonda Doud 38 assists, 13 digs; Brooke Fisher 17 kills, 13 points, 21-of-24 receiving; Jennifer Studebaker 16 kills, 15 blocks
Triton (6-3) stats - Jamey Bell 14 kills, 17 blocks; Kendra Blackford 42 assists, 7 aces, 32-of-34 serving
