Central spikers take second at invitational

Walled Lake Central picked up a key division win last week before earning a runner-up finish at the Erie-Mason Varsity Invitational.

Central (14-3) began the week with a three-set victory over Waterford Mott at home, 25-12, 25-17, 25-18, on Thursday, Sept. 8.

Colleen Starrs had 22 digs and 3 aces, while Brittany Guldan had 8 kills, 11 assists and 5 aces, and Katie Lusk had 8 kills and 2 aces.

“Our team executed its game plan, did a good job of communicating on the court and working on various plays that we have been practicing,” said Central Head Coach Cathy Johnson. “It was a nice overall team effort to get our first conference win of the season.”

Central then traveled to the Erie-Mason Invitational on Saturday, Sept. 10.

The Vikings went undefeated in pool play by knocking off Riverview Gabriel Richard (26-24, 25-14), Dundee (25-8, 26-24), and Jefferson (25-19, 25-18).

Central then eliminated Dundee in the tournament quarter-finals, 25-22, 22-25, 15-7, before defeating host Erie-Mason in the semi-finals, 25-20, 21-25, 15-8.

However, the Vikings met their match in the tournament final as they fell to Ann Arbor Gabriel Richard, 12-25, 24-26.

Guldan had 24 kills, 6 aces, 51 assists, and 17 digs on the day, while Starrs had 84 digs and 3 aces.

Gia Morianti also had 17 kills, 5 aces, 11 digs and 5 blocks. Candyce Jessamy had 14 blocks and 12 kills, and Mikaela Beck had 18 kills.

“We had a very nice showing in this tournament,” Johnson said. “Our team did have some ups and downs of play level; however, we had taken all teams in our program to our annual College Match Field Trip the day before so I think we were a little tired playing.

“It has been an intense first few weeks of the season for our team,” Johnson added. “Going forward, our schedule levels out and we are really looking forward to more of our dual matches in the conference.”

Prior to the tournament, the Vikings were able to watch a tournament at Madonna College that featured teams such as the Illinois Institute of Technology, whose players include recent Central graduate and Vikings great Taylor Duman, who starts for IIT.

Central played at Waterford Kettering on Tuesday, Sept. 13 after press time, and will host Walled Lake Northern tomorrow, Thursday, Sept. 15.