SANFORD-MERIDIAN - March 4, 2006 - Not only did the Sanford-Meridian Mustangs have the advantage of hosting Saturday's Class C district, but they came into the tournament with a team that would have been a heavy favorite on any court.

The Mustangs, winners of a very competitive Jack Pine Conference race that included Class B district champions Gladwin, were more than either Whittemore-Prescott or Hale could handle in sweeping all six games they played in two matches.

Meridian (38-13-2) clinched its third straight district title by defeating W-P 25-14, 25-16, 26-20 after topping Hale in the semifinals 25-12, 25-15, 25-9.

The Cards reached the championship match with victories over Mio AuSable (25-10, 26-24, 25-23) and Lincoln-Alcona (29-27, 25-11, 25-18).

Overall the girls played well today," said W-P coach Helen Loomis. "Serving errors hurt us at times.

"Against Meridian we were definitely put to the test. We just did not have enough depth against a team with six starting seniors and two more who could fill in."

The Cards, who finished their season with a 26-20-3 mark, were led by Catherine Daniels with 25 kills and 15 blocks; Erica Loomis with 30 kills, 54 digs, 17 points and six aces; Erin Grezeszak with 19 kills, 33 digs, 30 points and five aces; Ashley Foco with 24 points and six aces; and Stephanie Aviles with 50 assists and 38 digs.

"With only three girls back from last year, I thought the girls had a good season," Loomis said. "It was a perfect blend of hard work, enthusiasm, comradeship and love for the sport that made this particular team a pleasure to work with.

"I'm already looking forward to next year."

Hale won its opener 29-27, 20-25, 25-16, 25-14 over Coleman before falling to the eventual champions.

"The girls played hard," said Hale coach Kristi Benedict. "Sanford-Meridian just has some hard hitters and we don't have the blocking to help out defensively.

"We struggled with our serve receive against them also. But all the girls played hard and they didn't give up."

Leading the Eagles (14-12) against Meridian were Chelsea Sidebottom with two aces, Shannon Self with four kills, 12 digs and two blocks, and Self and Tarra Caverly with two assists apiece.

In the Coleman win, Amanda DeShano had 35 digs, Self had 18 kills, Caverly had 15 assists, Sideottom had five aces and Elizabeth Lerczak and Sabrina Provoast each had one block.