By Monroe News

OTTAWA LAKE – Whiteford didn’t win its own volleyball tournament Wednesday, but the Bobcats walked away feeling like champions.

Whiteford christened the brand-new gymnasium at its school with an eight-team tournament.

“We’re really excited,” said Whiteford coach Janie Bunge. “It was super cool to see our gym filled with volleyball. This is the first time we’ve ever hosted a tournament. We didn’t have the gym capacity before with just one court. As far as I know, it’s the first time we’ve ever hosted an indoor tournament of any kind at our school.”

The new gym features two volleyball courts.

“It is so awesome be part of,” said Bunge, a 2015 Whiteford graduate. “To get to experience it is mind boggling. We’re in heaven right now.”

Adrian was in heaven at the end of the tournament, topping Dundee 20-25, 25-21, 15-9 in the finals to take home the championship trophy.

Whiteford lost to Ida and Jefferson in pool play, then beat Jefferson 25-22, 25-21 in the first round of bracket play before falling 25-11, 25-19.

“All in all, a good first day for us,” Bunge said. “We were missing one of our middles.”

Liv Ruehle (52 digs), Alaina McClain (32 digs), Kenzie Gray (28 kills, .253 efficiency), Alaina McClain (24 kills), Annie Gapp (17 kills), and Anna Schober had (81 assists) led the Bobcats.