OSCODA - Nov. 5, 2008 - Hale's volleyball took three straight games from Alcona on Wednesday to advance to the Class C District 91 title game, defeating the Tigers 25-17, 25-22, 25-18.

The Eagles pulled away in the final stages of each of the first two games, then took a 20-9 lead in the third game and hung on for thee win.

"The girls played hard and fought for every win," said Hale coach Heather Chrivia. "Alcona really came pumped up and played the best I have seen them play all season."

Alcona's Danielle Belanger and Lauren Silver kept the Tigers in each of the first two games. But when the Eagles needed points, outside hitters Tarra Caverly and Kelsey Reilly were ready, and Liz Lerczak kept control of the middle with both her hitting and blocking.

In the middle game, Alcona came back from a 13-6 deficit to take a 19-18 lead on Silver's kill, but Reilly and Lerczak each came up with key hits to reclaim the lead for Hale, and Caverly had kills for each of Hale's final three points to clinch the win.

Caverly then turned in five aces during a run of 11 straight serves that put Hale up 13-1 in the third and final game.

"(Alcona) had a large, very vocal crowd backing them up," Chrivia said. "But my girls really used that to their advantage and played that much harder."

Caverly had a perfect night at the service line and added nine kills, with Lerczak adding eight kills and five blocks and Reilly six kills. Laura Sidebottom served up the hitters with 23 assists.

The Eagles (21-7-3) take on Whittemore-Prescott on Friday, Nov. 7 at 6 p.m. for the district championship.

Hale Stats: Tarra Caverly 26/26 serving, 6 aces, 13 digs, 9 kills; Liz Lerczak 1 ace, 12 digs, 8 kills, 5 blocks; Laura Sidebottom 1 ace, 3 digs, 23 assists, 1 kill; Kelsey Reilly 2 aces, 9 digs, 6 kills; Stacey Eno 2 aces, 4 digs, 1 block; Belle Moody 1 ace; Shelby Rhein 3 digs; Corinna Sidam 2 digs.