ESSEXVILLE GARBER - Feb. 26 2005 - The Oscoda volleyball team nearly pulled off a major upset in the Class B district volleyball tournament at Essexville Garber on Saturday. The Pinconning Spartans probably with the Owls had been able to do it.

The Owls, who finished sixth in the North East Michigan Conference this season, took a two games to one lead over the Dukes in their district quarterfinal match and led 11-7 in the first-to-15 deciding game before falling. Garber's 17-25, 25-23, 21-25, 25-17, 16-14 victory was the only match of the tournament that wasn't decided in three straight games.

"I could not have hoped that my players would have played any better than they did," Oscoda coach Linda Hennigar said. "I wawnted them to be able to leave the county knowing that they had played their best match of the season, and they certainly did all of that. They absolutely played to their potential; unfortunately it was not quite enough."

Garber took the first game, but the Owls bounced back to take a 15-10 lead in the second game and held on for the 25-23 victory. Garber started the game without injured setter Kait Harris, but put her back in the lineup anyway when it appeared the Dukes' season was threatened.

Indeed it was, as the Owls took the third game, with Melissa McCausey's kill from the left side finishing off a 25-23 victory. Garber took control of the fourth game as Harris was able to get the ball to middle hitter Lauren Page for a series of laser-beam quality kills. But the Owls regained their footing in the fifth game, with the help of some vocal support from the other NEMC teams and fans in attendance.

"We played for two hours to an audience that was almost as much into the game as the players were," Hennigar said. "It was absolutely awesome."

The Owls' defense adjusted to Garber's increased intensity, and aided by several hard-to-believe saves by McCausey took an 11-7 lead in the final game. A couple of Oscoda defensive errors helped get the Dukes back on track, but the Owls still led 13-12 after a Heather Davis kill. Page then stepped up for Garber, blocking an Oscoda hit at the net and acing a serve for a 14-13 Dukes' lead. Georgia Welch put one down to tie it at 14-14, but Harris' perfectly placed ball gave Garber the lead for good.

"I am so very proud of these young athletes," Hennigar said. "They played their hearts and souls out. If you have to end the season on a losing note, this is a great way to do it."

Leading the Owls were Deanna Boughner with 12 total kills, McCausey with 16 digs, 5 aces and 23 points served, and Morse with 19 assists.

Tawas, which had dispatched Beaverton in its opening match 25-2, 25-3, 25-18, was Garber's next victim, 25-23, 25-16, 25-7. The Braves nearly captured the first game, coming back from down 23-18 behind some strong front line play by Alyse Schirmer and Sarah Simmons. Garber picked up the pace as the match went on, and the Braves were unable to respond.

On the other side of the bracket, Pinconning whipped Gladwin 25-17, 25-13, 25-15 in the opening match. Standish-Sterling awaited the winner and took a quick 3-0 lead in the first game, but Kayla Fowler served 12 straight points for the Spartans, who went on to a 25-7, 25-13, 25-17 victory.

Garber then took a 25-23, 26-24, 25-27 sweep of Pinny in the championship match. The Dukes jumped to a quick lead in the championship match, but Fowler and Jackie Genow helped Pinny to pull within 22-20 before falling. The second game was tied at 24-24 before a pair of Spartan hitting errors ended it. As they did against Tawas, Garber got stronger as the match progressed, never having to deal with a serious threat in the final.

Ashley Sanak led the Spartans with 78 assists and 6 aces, with Kayla Fowler adding 22 kills and 33 digs, Ashley Schwerin with 35 kills and Alyssa Gruszynski with 37 kills. Pinny wrapped up its season with a 33-32 mark.