 |
Tiffany Stevens (3), Jessica Tebo, Cindy Hardies and the Hillman Tigers proved to be much more than AuGres-Sims could handle on Tuesday, sweeping the Wolverines 25-18, 25-18, 25-20. Hillman finishes their NSL slate with an 11-3 mark, while AGS can tie for the league's top spot if it can finish its season with wins over Atlanta and Arenac Eastern. |
 |
Brent Baker |
Jamie Taylor saves a ball off the net during Monday's loss to Hillman. |
AuGRES-SIMS - Feb. 19, 2007 - Hillman's Tigers needed a win at AuGres-Sims to clinch at least a tie for the North Star League title on Monday, and did so in decisive fashion.
The Tigers defeated the Wolverines 25-18, 25-18, 25-20 to finish their league slate with an 11-3 mark. AGS can claim a share of the title with wins over Atlanta and Arenac Eastern, while Posen can make it a three-way tie with a win over Hale on Thursday.
The Wolverines took 5-0 leads in both the first and third games, but couldn't control the Tigers' 5-9 "triplets" of Tiffany Stevens, Carly Hardies and Jessica Tebo, whose front-line work was responsible for most of Hillman's scoring.
The Wolverines weren't operating on all cylinders, particularly in the late-going of all three games. In the opener, Hillman pulled away from an 18-17 lead with seven of the final eight points, including two on AGS errors.
Hillman controlled all but the middle portion of the second game, finishign it off with a Hardies block and a pair of Stevens kills after the Wolverines got to within 20-17 at one point.
The Wolverines led 5-0 in the third game after Jamie Taylor served up a pair of aces and Sam Baron turned in a kill, but the Wolverines hit the ball long on three consecutive hits to get the Tigers back in the game. Hillman held a 19-18 lead late, but AGS committed three unforced errors, Stevens had a kill and Tebo finished the match off with a kill that prevented the Wolverines from wrapping up sole possession of the NSL title.
For AGS, which fell to 13-7 (9-3 NSL) Taylor had 27 assists, three aces and 25 digs; Baron had 14 kills and 12 digs and Toria Pendred had 20 digs.
