Petoskey sneaks past Huron spikers;

The RC Hurons? volleyball team traveled to Petoskey Monday only to have the rug pulled out after a good start in the first game, 15-9. The Northmen made a comeback effort and took the final two 15-12, 15-12 leaving the Hurons with the loss. The Huron match record now stands at 23-12-4 and conference record at 16-2.

?They started out well,? said coach Kristy Smolinski, ?then lost focus and things fell apart. The passing was off. They did come back from 12-0 in the third game…but just couldn?t catch up.?

Smolinski said they are looking forward to playing in St. Louis this weekend at the invitational tournament. In Monday?s match, Lauren Fairbanks led the team with 20 kills, 14 digs and 25 set assists, followed by Ashley Fleming with 12 kills, five blocks, 10 digs and one ace serve.

Becky Bruning had two kills and 13 digs, while Lindsey Fleming had 10 digs. Megan Hanson added 22 set assists and three service aces.

IN A MAKEUP match after a weather cancellation last Monday, the Hurons swept both Inland Lakes 15-10, 15-13,. 15-8, and Onaway 15-2, 15-8, and 15-4. Fairbanks led the team with 26 kills, 32 digs, four blocks, eight ace serves, and nine set assists, followed by Ashley Fleming with 17 kills, 21 digs, three blocks, and four aces. Megan Grulke had three kills, 31 digs, and six aces, while Hanson had 18 digs, 26 set assists and seven aces. Bruning added six kills, 13 digs, and one block, and Lindsey Fleming had one kill, 10 digs, and eight set assists.

IN THE JV match at Petoskey, the Hurons bowed to Northmen pressure in all three games, 9-

15, 8-15, and 9-15, bring the JV record to 14-10-4. Jess Konieczny led the team with three kills and five digs, followed by Desi Farmer, Kristy Curtis, and Liesa Kelly with two ace serves each.

The JV team competed February 5 at Onaway and swept Inland Lakes in the first match 15-13, 15-8, and 15-6. The JV was stopped in the first game against Onaway 10-15 but prevailed for the win in the next two, 15-6 and 15-2. Leading the JV team was Konieczny with nine kills and nine aces, followed by Sam Hurst with six kills, Diana Stempky with five kills and six aces, and Brittany Hincka with seven assists and three aces.

The varsity Hurons will travel to the St. Louis Invitational Saturday, and to Pickford on Monday.