Carrie Fink, Lindsay Nelson, Tiffany Wenkel, Maddie Nelson and Heather Bell (16) celebrate after Arenac Eastern snapped a 65-match losing streak Thursday with a three-game sweep of AuGres-Sims.
Ashley Irwin tries to rally the Wolverines early in the third game of Thursday's match.
Brent Baker
Freshman Maddie Nelson proved a tall order to get around during Thursday's match.

AuGRES-SIMS - Oct. 11, 2007 - Arenac Eastern led from start to finish Thursday as the Eagles earned their first victory of the season with a 25-16, 25-21, 25-18 over AuGres-Sims.

It's been a long time since the Eagles have won a volleyball match: February 6, 2003, to be exact, a stretch of 103 matches. AE did split with Alcona at the Mio tournament in 2005, but Thursday's victory snapped a 65-match losing string.

The Eagles have come close on a couple of occasions this year, including their first match against the Wolverines and last week's match at Mio, in which AE was in every game despite being swept.

"They played awesome," said AE coach Hannah Neil. "They finally played like the team I know I have. They played well at Mio last week, but we didn't play well against Posen on Tuesday.

"The girls really showed how they could play tonight."

AE took an 8-1 lead in the first game and was never seriously threatened. Lindsay and Maddie Nelson held the advantage along the front line against the shorter Wolverines, either getting their hands on AGS hits or just being a disruptive influence at the net.

The Wolverines stayed close in the second game, staying within two to three points throughout. But in the final game, the Eagles rode their momentum and a vocal crowd to the sweep. Heather Bell had two aces to bring the Eagles to within a point of finishing it off, and after AE lost serve AGS hit the ball into the net on the next point to end it.

"Their hard work and determination to win were demonstrated tonight," Neil said. "We've been working on getting our serves over and our defense."

AE's JV team, coached by Michelle Dery, also earned a victory to give the Eagles a sweep on the night.

AGS tries to bounce back at home on Tuesday against Atlanta, while Eastern travels to Fairview.

AE Stats: Kristi Marsh 2 assists, 2 tips; Courtney Pasnik 2 assists, 2 tips; Heather Bell 3 aces, 7 tips, 6 assists; Amber Miracle 2 tips, 2 assists; Aleece Blata 7 tips, 21 assists; Maddie Nelson 2 aces, 11 tips, 4 assists, 1 kill; Carrie Fink 2 aces, 4 digs, 15 tips, 13 assists; Tiffany Wenkel 2 aces, 5 tips, 8 assists, 2 kills; Lindsay Nelson 2 aces, 3 blocks, 26 tips, 6 assists, 5 kills; Casey Sexton 8 tips, 6 assists.