Linda Eyer
Tarra Caverly bumps one forward during Hale's run to a second-place finish at Whittemore-Prescott on Saturday.

WHITTEMORE-PRESCOTT - Oct. 13, 2007 - Hale's volleyball team earned a second-place finish at Saturday's Whittemore-Prescott Invitational despite fielding the tournament's smallest squad.

The Eagles opened with a 21-25, 17-25 loss to eventual tournament champ Standish-Sterling, defeated Oscoda 25-17, 25-20, beat Alcona 25-13, 25-21, topped W-P 25-7, 25-17, beat Tawas Area 25-21, 25-15 and fell in the championship match to SSC 25-19, 22-25, 6-15.

The win in the first game over SSC was the only game the Panthers lost all day.

"I am so proud of these girls," said Hale coach Mandy Allen. "They played hard all day and just did an amazing job."

For the day, Terra Kelso had three aces, 12 kills, 13 blocks and 41 digs; Rachel Maher had 10 aces, 20 digs, a kill and led the team in assists; Kelsey Reilly had three aces, 42 digs and five kills; Stacey Eno had three digs and Kassie Johnson had seven aces, five kills and 50 digs.

"For just seven players at an all-day tournament working so hard and never giving up -- what more can you ask for?" said Allen. "Coach Spaw and I have been blessed with a small but fesity team of volleyball players."

The Eagles improved to 16-10 overall.