WHITTEMORE-PRESCOTT - Feb. 4, 2006 - Despite an injury to Sabrina Provoast that will cost the Hale volleyball team the services of their powerful outside hitter for several weeks, the Eagles managed to win three of five matches at the Whittemore-Prescott Invitational on Feb. 4.

Provoast went down with a knee injury in the second match of the morning, a loss to Sanford-Meridian.

"We did well despite losing Sabrina," said Hale coach Kristi Benedict. "We took second in pool play and lost to New Lothrop in the playoffs, but they are just a different level than we are."

The Eagles opened with a 27-25, 25-18 victory over Standish-Sterling, lost to Meridian 13-25, 16-25, beat Oscoda 25-23, 25-20, beat Mio 25-22, 25-15 and fell to New Lothrop, a state power the past several seasons, 13-25, 15-25.

"Losing Sabrina in the first game against Meridian was a big loss," Benedict said. "The girls pulled together, with the JV girls doing an awesome job with the little preparation they had coming into the tourney."

Stepping into the varsity lineup were Elizabeth Lerczak, who contributed 20-of-21 serving, four kills and 14 digs, and Tarra Caverly, who added four aces, nine assists and five kills.

Chelsea Sidebottom also had 24 aces in four matches (stats were incomplete from one match), while Shannon Self had 31 kills and 15 assists, Heather Albaugh had 17 digs, Sidebottom had 36 digs, Andera Herzog had five kills and eight blocks, Jessica Beasinger had 19 digs, Nicole Allen had nine aces and 11 digs, and Provoast had five aces, 13 assists and four kills in less than two matches before going down with her injury.

The Eagles improved to 10-9 for the season.