Sports Tigers advance in district play, Soldiers to clash with Lions

Bendle’s Bianca Hundley went up high for a dig to keep the ball in play. BURTON — The Bendle volleyball team hosted District No. 82-C Monday with Atherton, Bentley, Flint Beecher, Flint Hamady and Byron all contending for the title.

Bendle opened the action Monday against Flint Beecher and won in three, 25-9, 25-9, 25-14.

Jacqueline Simpson led with 10 kills, Amanda Dumas had nine aces, Sam O’Reilly had eight aces and seven kills and Chelsea Gardner seven aces for the Lady Tigers.

An hour later, Hamady lost to Byron in straight sets, putting Atherton against Bendle at 6 p.m. yesterday and Byron was to take on Bentley in the other semifinal. Finals have been moved up to Thursday at Bendle at 6 p.m., with Byron expected to face either Atherton or Bendle in the champsionship game.

“We played pretty good Saturday at the league meet and played Atherton and they beat us 25-23 and 25-20, in close games,” said Bendle coach Ben Varner. “We’re hoping we can come in and give them a battle and turn the tide in a couple of those close games. Byron will likely take out Bentley with Bentley struggling a lot this year,” Varner added.

In the league meet last week, Atherton beat Hamady, 25-21, 25-14, lost to Byron, 19-25, 14-25, putting the Wolverines in the loser’s bracket. There, Atherton beat Bendle, 25-22, 25-19, then Genesee, 25-19, 25-21, before losing to Byron in the semis, 22-25, 17-25, to end up in third place.

Katie Walls had 28 kills, three aces and four blocks, while Retha Horton had 25 kills, six aces and three blocks. Brianna Woods had 16 kills and five blocks and Raylynn Dark had 14 kills and three aces to help Atherton finish at 17-21-3 overall. No. 113-D Genesee Christian

This district features a group of teams that has seen a lot of each other this season, with the Michigan School for the Deaf taking on St. Thomas More in round one Monday to pare down the field. The winner will face the Valley School today at 5 p.m., followed by host Genesee Christian taking on the 9-1 Faith Lions, who nearly recorded an undefeated season, at 6:30 p.m.

Faith is favored to take this district, but as has been proven, its anyone’s title to win and everyone’s to let slip away.