The Goodrich Early Bird Volleyball Invitational Saturday, Dec. 18 served as a litmus test for both the Brandon and Goodrich volleyball teams.
Both squads participated in the tournament and were each eliminated in the second round of the single elimination bracket. L’Anse Creuse defeated North Branch in the tournament finals.
For Goodrich, the tournament was their first competition of the season. The Martians started out the tournament by losing to Imlay City 14-25, 18-25 and Lapeer East 14-25, 24-26.
Goodrich then defeated Hartland 25-23, 25-21 and Bendle 25-9, 25-6 before losing to eventual tournament champion L’Anse Creuse in the single elimination portion of the tournament 13-25, 11-25. The Martians finished with a tournament record of 4-6.
Goodrich coach Richard Sirna said the Martians could take a lesson from North Branch, whom Sirna said were no bigger or taller than Goodrich, but made it to the tournament finals by virtue of their superior passing.
‘We need to work on our passing,? he said. ‘I saw a couple of our players take big leaps and bounds in passing. We served well, now we have to start passing well.?
Sirna said Tara Garman had an exceptional tournament and has the potential to be an All-State player. ‘She’s just fantastic,? he said.
Garman was 55-of-63 in attacking with 29 kills and 38 digs, and was 34-of-38 serving with 13 aces and 10 blocks. Other key Goodrich players were Julie Owen (29-of-37 attacking, eight kills, 37 digs, 26-of-33 serving, nine aces, and 34-of-41 passing) and Alyssa Bertrand (28-of-33 serving, five aces, 17-of-18 attacking, four kills, 102-of-110 setting, 41 assists).
Sirna said the Martians can use this tournament as a building block for the future.
‘Hopefully, we can win the Genesee Area Conference Red Division and move on to districts,? he said. ‘I’d like these girls to win a tournament. They haven’t experienced that yet.?
Meanwhile, the Blackhawks competed in their second tournament of the season, having competed the previous weekend in an Okemos tournament.
The Blackhawks finished 2-2-1 at the Goodrich tournament before losing to Port Huron Northern in the second round of the single-elimination portion of the tournament 25-14, 25-16. Brandon is now 5-5-1 on the season.
The Blackhawks started out defeating Almont 25-13, 25-22 and Richmond 23-25, 25-16, 15-11. Brandon then lost to Flushing 25-18, 25-13 before tying Atherton 17-25, 25-17.
Lynsey Crain finished 32-of-32 serving with seven aces and 16 digs, while Janet Soave was 20-of-20 serving with four aces, and Stephenie Manning contributed 17 digs, 14 kills, and 10 blocks.