Huron spikers lose to Alpena, host tournament Saturday, Feb. 1

The volleyball season is in mid-stream and Huron power has moments of extreme brilliance and momentary let-downs and lulls. On homecourt Monday evening the Hurons hosted Rudyard and literally put them away in the first game, nary losing a beat in timing and performance with a 15-3 result. In the second game, Rudyard won 15-10, leading the entire game and leaving a wondering Huron team, ?What happened?? In the third game, the Hurons returned to their former selves and left no doubt who was the better team, 15-4. It was the middle-game blues that concerned coach Kristy Smolinski.

?I just don?t know what happened to them in the second game — I started with two different people in the starting rotation, but they played that starting rotation all last weekend…it might have been the chemistry,? Smolinski said. Smolinski said she does not feel the team is where it should be at this point and is concerned with the front line play.

?OUR COVERAGE has gotten very good and our wings are improving. We need to pick up the pace on our front line,? Smolinski added. Former Huron player Karla Fairbanks and some other college girls are scheduled to come to town this week and it is hoped they will give the Hurons a beefed-up ?Volleyball-101? class with helpful pointers. In the Rudyard match Lauren Fairbanks led the Hurons with 18 kills, two blocks, five set assists, nine digs and one service ace. Ashley Fleming had six kills, three blocks, four digs, and one ace, while Becky Bruning had six kills, one block, 14 digs, and three service aces. Megan Hanson added 14 set assists and two digs.

The conference game record stands at 10-2 and the overall match record is 17-10-3. At the Glen Lake Tournament Saturday, the Hurons swept McBain Northern Michigan Christian in pool play 15-12, 15-9, 15-6, took Benzie Central 15-10, 15-10, and gave away the final game 10-15. The Hurons swept Kalkaska 15-3, 15-4, and 15-5 and topped Brethern 15-1, 15-4, and 14-16 in a close finish. Coach Smolinski said the team just ?froze up? when they went up against Leland in the final games, losing 1-15 and 2-15.

ON THE DAY, Fairbanks led with 84 kills, 47 digs, 22 assists, eight blocks, and eight service aces, followed by Ashley Fleming with 44 kills, 32 digs, nine blocks and eight aces. Hanson had one kill, 14 digs, 67 assists, and three aces, while Megan Grulke had 11

kills, 47 digs, and 10 service aces. Bruning had 14 kills, 33 digs eight blocks and seven aces. In last week?s Alpena match the Hurons were swept by the Wildcats 7-15, 8-15, and 1-15. Fairbanks led the Hurons with nine kills, two blocks, nine digs and four assists, while Ashley Fleming had five kills, three blocks, eight digs, and two aces. Hanson added 14 digs, nine assists and one ace, while Lindsey Fleming had 12 digs, two assists and one ace.

This Saturday is a great opportunity to view strong volleyball action on homecourt as the Hurons will host the annual RC Invitational Tournament beginning at 8:30 a.m.

The Class C state champions, New Lothrop, will attend as well as Forest Area, Alpena, and Gaylord varsity teams among many others. It will be an all day event, so be sure and stop by to cheer on the Hurons.