Charisse Morris lays out for a save against Leland on Saturday.
Jessica Stevenson (12) , Amanda Nixon and Jodi Bilacic (3) try to defend against one of Alisha Glass's 60-mph spikes during Saturday's regional semifinal contest.
Jodi Bilacic and the AuGres-Sims defense were busy against Lelands big, aggressive front line.
Brent Baker
Angela Porn blocks a Leland kill attempt during the second game of the Wolverines regional tournament loss to the Comets on Saturday.

ARENAC EASTERN - Mar. 11, 2006 - AuGres-Sims came into Saturday's regional semifinal game with Leland riding a 21-match win streak. The Wolverines probably played as well as they had all year, and certainly as hard. They were unintimidated by the Comet's credentials and didn't shy away from the challenge.

It still wasn't enough.

The Leland Comets, defending state runners-up from a year ago, rode the power and precision of all-world talent Alisha Grace to a 25-13, 25-14, 25-12 victory over the Wolverines, then dispatched Marion in three games to advance to Tuesday's state quarterfinal at Beal City.

"Even though the girls didn't play their best game, they played very well under the circumstances," said AGS coach Jeri Christie. "Leland is an awesome team and Alisha Glass is amazing."

Even without Glass, the Comets would have been a formidable opponent. With a big front line and at least one other all-state player in the lineup, Leland would still have been the regional tourney favorite.

But Glass, who will play at perennial Final Four contender Penn State next season, flies at a level few in this area have seen. The national career record holder in kills and aces (before this season even started) has excelled on gold-medal winning teams in international tournaments, winning Best Server and Best Setter in two such competitions. And that doesn't take into account her 60-mph spikes. One volleyball scouting service ranked her sixth nationally among this year's graduating class.

So the Wolverines might have been forgiven had they wilted at the first rocket-speed kill that came their way.

"She's everything we heard about and more," Christie said. "It's very intimidating to have someone of her size and athletic ability hammering the ball at you."

The Wolverines tried to block her as best they could, dove after every scorching hit, and kept the large, vocal home crowd in the game throughout the match. Jodi Bilacic and Chelsie Irwin each picked up bumps and bruises from diving into the stands after barely-saved kills, with Irwin's even coming on the last point of the match after everything had long since been decided.

The Comets quickly established control in the first game, bursting out to a 13-5 lead behind Glass's jump serves. AGS used an ace by Angela Porn and a Bilacic kill to cut into the lead, but if there was any doubt as to who was controlling the match, the Comets put it to rest with a 7-1 run that turned a 15-9 lead into a commanding 22-10 margin.

The Wolverines' defense was stingy enough to prevent any long runs in the second game, but Leland consistently scored three to four points every time they held serve, while AGS scored consecutive points just three times in the game.

Leland built a 20-7 lead in the third game, but AGS pulled to within 21-12, including a block by Porn and an ace by Irwin, but the Comets went back to their strength and scored the last four points, including two on thundering kills from Glass.

The Wolverines finish the season with a number of high-water marks -- first tournament trophy after winning the Mio Invitational, first North Star League title, first district championship, and most wins with a 25-5-2 record.

"This is a championship team who worked very hard all season," Christie said. "They went down like champions, and I am very proud of them."

Leland, ranked second in the state to defending champion Battle Creek St. Phillip, improved to 64-4.