Hurons to host tournament this weekend

by Angie Asam– Staff Writer The Rogers City varsity volleyball traveled to Rudyard Tuesday for a Straits Area Conference matchup with the Bulldogs. The Hurons would drop game one 17-25 before rallying to take the next three games 25-22, 25-18 and 25-22 to take the match. Amanda Smolinski notched 13 kills, four digs and nine set assists in the match. Logan Schuiteman had five kills, five ace serves and three digs. Becca Peacock notched 13 kills while Shelby Schleben had nine ace serves and seven digs and Linnea Brege had five digs and 14 set assists. ?We were a little slow moving the first game and lost to them. Rudyard covers very well and we needed to pass the ball up and put it away. We won in four and this adds another win in the conference. We are home this weekend and will have some good teams there in Pellston, Whitemore Prescott, Posen, Alcona, Onaway, Alanson and Inland Lakes,? said coach Kristy Smolinski.

SATURDAY THE HURONS traveled to the Suttons Bay Invitational. The tournament featured 16 teams in four pools. The Hurons were in a pool with Charlevoix, Elk Rapids and Manton. Rogers City placed third in the pool play portion of the tournament before going into power pool play with Traverse City Christian, Hancock and Pinconning. The Hurons defeated Pinconnin

g and Hancock before splitting with Traverse City Christian. Schleben, a junior, notched 39 ace serves on the day along with four kills. ?I am sure it was a school record. It was truly amazing and she has a killer serve that was unreturnable. Great job Shelby!? said coach Smolinski. On the day the Hurons were 2-1-3. Brege had 31 set assists, nine digs and three kills on the day. Schuiteman added five blocks, 16 kills and six digs. Peacock had 17 kills and 15 blocks while Taylor Darling added 12 digs. Smolinski was named to the all tournament team as she had 18 set assists, six digs, nine blocks and 21 kills.

?I was very happy with how they played Saturday. All the teams that were at the tournament were class C and D schools and they played well against all of them. We ran new plays, executed them and they played together and had fun along with it. We ended up taking first place in the third-place pool and brought home a trophy. The team is moving forward and we need to keep the momentum going,? said coach Smolinski. The Hurons host their tournament Saturday and will be home Tuesday with Cheboygan and Thursday with Alpena.