MIO AuSABLE - Mar. 3, 2007 - Whittemore-Prescott's runner-up finish in the mostly Class B North East Michigan Conference proved to be perfect preparation for the Cardinals on Saturday as they swept their way through their Class C District tournament at Mio AuSable.

The Cards swept both of their North Star League foes, topping Mio 25-23, 25-11, 25-16 and Hale 25-17, 25-10, 25-18.

Hale reached the final by defeating Coleman 25-13, 26-24, 25-27, 25-22 and Sanford-Meridian 25-16, 25-22, 25-16.

The Cardinals, after the two-point win in their opening game with Mio, put forth a consistent performance in claiming the district championship trophy and advancing to the Saturday, March 10 regional at Gaylord.

"With the exception of a slow start in the first game with Mio, the girls played well today," said W-P coach Helen Loomis. "Overall play was consistent, defense picked up the tips, serving had minimal errors and our hitters kept pounding the ball.

"The girls worked hard all season. The earned and deserved the district championship."

For Hale, reaching the final provided a positive finish to a season that had its ups and downs. The Eagles played most of the year with seven players, giving them just one substitute on the bench and little margin for error.

"The girls ended the season ina good way," said Hale coach Kristi Benedict. "They played fairly well throughout the day.

"In the final match against W-P, it seemed like we just couldn't get going really strong, and W-P played a good match."

The Cards' strong finish to the season was especially impressive considering they had to adjust to the loss of starting setter Stephanie Aviles, who broke her hand during a match in January.

The Cardinals will face Kingsley in the opening round of the regional tourney, featuring many of the same players that ended the basketball season for the W-P girls team that included Catherine Daniels, Annie Thompson and Katie Eymer.

Leading W-P (33-12-4) were Daniels with 29 points, five aces, 19 digs and 19 kills; Heather Popielarz with 17 points and 21 digs; Miranda Oakley with 16 points and four aces; Ashley Foco with 16 points and 59 assists; Erica Loomis with 35 kills and 59 digs; Katie Borushko with 26 digs; Katie Eymer with seven kills and Madie O'Farrell with five kills.

Leading Hale in the W-P match were Terra Kelso with eight digs; Heather Albaugh with 24 digs; Rachel Mahter with seven assists and 16 digs; Elizabeth Lerczak with 22 digs; Tarra Caverly with three assists and 16 digs; Rachel Bunner with two kills, seven digs and the teams' only ace; and Sabrina Provoast with two kills and 35 digs.

Agains Meridian, Kelso had one ace and seven digs; Albaugh had 15 digs; Maher had one ace, eight assists and 11 digs; Lerczak had three aces, four kills and seven digs; Caverly had one ace, six assists, seven kills and 10 digs; Bunner had one ace, three kills and five digs; and Provoast had one ace, five kills and 16 digs.

In the Coleman match, Kelso had three aces, three kills and 16 digs; Albuahg had 22 digs; Maher had 13 assists and 30 digs; Lerczak had three aces and 27 digs; Caverly had 15 assists, six kills, three blocks and 18 digs; Bunner had 10 digs; and Provoast had 32 digs and three blocks.