Escanaba Defends Super 8 Volleyball Tourney at LHS
Rose Paquin, Erica Ahlich, and Lindsay McLeod Make All-Tournament Team
By David Latva
 | | Above left, Engadine's Nicole Benoit (5) against Petoskey. Above right, Lauren MacArthur serves for the Eagles. |
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The defending champions of the annual Super 8 Volleyball Invitational in St. Ignace, the Escanaba Eskymos, struggled during pool play with a 2-4 record, however, the Esykmos stormed back to capture the tournament championship Saturday, January 20.
During the championship match, the Esykmos fell to Sault Ste. Marie in the first game before downing the Blue Devils in the second and third games to post the win.
Cheboygan upended Engadine in the consolation match.
In the quarterfinal match-ups, Escanaba downed Petoskey, Sault Ste. Marie beat Inland Lakes, Cheboygan defeated Cedarville, and Engadine defeated St. Ignace.
All-Tournament Team
Selected to the All-Tournament Team by the game officials and coaches were Michelle Carne of Escanaba, Dani Fegan of Sault Ste. Marie, Betsy Gowell of Cheboygan, and Rose Paquin of Engadine, Andi Gasco of Petoskey, Erica Ahlich of St. Ignace, and Lindsay McLeod of Cedarville.
During Pool A play, Cheboygan and Engadine compiled 5-1 records, Escanaba 2-4, and Inland Lakes went 0-6. In Pool B, Sault Ste. Marie recorded a 5-1 mark, Petoskey 4-2, St. Ignace 2-4, and Cedarville went 1-5.
Engadine Earns Spot
in Final Four
The Engadine Eagles, ranked in the Class D division, was one of the final four teams in the Super 8 Tourney.
Engadine was the smallest school representative (in terms of enrollment) at the tournament. The final four teams were the Eagles, Escanaba (Class A), Sault Ste. Marie (Class B), and Cheboygan (Class B).
"Overall, I was pleased with our total performance on the day against strong competition," said Eagles Coach Kathy Miller.
Eagles Stats: Rose Paquin, nine aces, 40 kills, 25 digs, one block kill; Tristina Browning, nine aces, 61 assists, two kills; Lauren MacArthur, five aces, three kills, two block kills; Nicole Benoit, three aces, 25 kills, 15 digs; Chloe Fletcher, three aces, 25 digs, one kills, Shauni Rutledge, 10 kills, five digs, one block kill; Jamie Maison, nine digs.
 | | Engadine's Rose Paquin battles at the net against Escanaba. |
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Saints Fall in Q-Finals
St. Ignace fell to Engadine in the quarterfinals of the tournament.
"We played well at times, especially against Engadine," said Saints Coach Nikki Martin.
Saints Stats: Desi Nordstrand, 17 points, 18 attacks, seven digs, five kills, five sets; Ashley Neelis, 11 points, one ace, 12 attacks, four sets, two digs, two kills; Erica Ahlich, 110 sets, eight points, two aces, six digs, two attacks, one kill; Marcie Rickley, nine points, 17 attacks, eight sets, five kills, three digs; Brooke Garries, seven points, two aces, nine digs; Laura Rickley, six points, four attacks, four sets, two digs; Chelsey Bosley, four points, one ace, two attacks; Alyssa Pechta, seven attacks, one kill; Jaimee Bloxsom, five attacks, two kills; Caysey Brown, five digs; Jessica Massaway, four digs.
Trojans Defeated in Q-Finals
Cedarville fell to Cheboygan in the quarterfinals.
Trojans Stats: Lindsay McLeod, five aces, eight kills, two block kills; Caitlin Wright, five aces, five kills, two block kills; Hope Deeren, seven kills, one block kill; Megan Hill, three aces, two kills; Carissa Sudol, two aces, 16 assists; Kara Griffin, four kills; McKenzie Sudol, one ace, nine assists, Billie McLeod, three kills, two block kills.
 | | Erica Ahlich sets up a teammate for the Saints. |
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The tournament was sponsored by Jim Jr. and Sheryl DeKeyser, owners of the Super 8 Motel in St. Ignace.
St. Ignace will host a junior varsity tournament Saturday, January 27, in the middle school and elementary gymnasiums, with play beginning at 9 a.m.
 | | Lindsay McLeod of Cedarville at the net against St. Ignace. |
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 | | Marcie Rickley of St. Ignace connects on a return. |
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 | | Jaimee Bloxsom of LaSalle battles at the net against Sault High. |
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