Lori LaFave sets up one of her 102 assists during Saturday's NEMC volleyball finals.
Linda Eyer
Samantha Bellhorn, shownd during Wednesday's victory over Ogemaw Heights, had 11 aces during Saturday's tournament.

OSCODA - Feb. 25, 2006 - With a painfully young team, the Pinconning volleyball squad still had what it took Saturday to claim a share of its 24th consecutive North East Michigan Conference title.

The Spartans actually lost one match - the completion of a makeup from their five-game slugfest with John Glenn that was interrupted by a power outage in January.

Glenn won the fifth game of that match 15-5 to take the league lead, but Pinny set itself up for the league title showdown by sweeping through the rest of the league Saturday.

Pinny overcame a first-game loss to defeat Ogemaw Heights in three games, 21-25, 25-21, 25-13 and went on to sweep Whittemore-Prescott 25-14, 28-16; Tawas Area 25-19, 25-7; Oscoda 25-15, 25-11; and Standish-Sterling 25-17, 25-13.

The Spartans then came from behind to defeat Glenn 23-25, 27-25, 25-13 to claim a portion of the league title.

The Spartans and Bobcats both finished 11-1 in NEMC play.

Leaders for Pinny included Alyssa Gruszynski with 82 kills, Alisha Ouillette with 69 digs, Sam Bellhor with 11 aces; and Lori LaFave with 102 assists.

Pinconning travels to Gladwin on Saturday, March 4, where they will take on host Gladwin in the day's opening contest.