Ranked No. 3 in Class C, the Mendon volleyball team squared off against Class D’s top squad Battle Creek St. Philip in Saturday’s championship match at the Harper Creek Invitational. The Hornets lost the first game 19-25 and nearly overcame a six-point deficit in the second, but were edged 23-25.
Mendon defeated Loy Norrix, Coldwater and Climax-Scotts in pool play before topping Delton-Kellogg and Harper Creek in bracket competition.
Danielle Parsons had 10 aces, Brooke Howard finished with nine aces, 53 digs, 58 kills and four blocks, Alexis Russell registered eight aces, 48 digs, 34 kills and three blocks and Loryn Baughman produced 107 assists. Jordan Van Oss added 15 assists, 51 digs, 34 kills and five blocks.
“We were down six in that second game against St. Philip,” Mendon coach Kathy Trenary said. “We ended up catching them at 23 but just couldn’t close it out. To be in tight situations and try to make positive changes is good practice for us. St. Phil has been in those situations a lot, so it’s kind of in the program.
“We certainly rose up and played faster against Harper Creek in the semis and St. Philip in the finals. We were able to play at that quick pace, and that’s really good for us. We got better as the day went on.”