Cadillac Beats TC West to Tie for BNC Lead

CADILLAC – The Cadillac Vikings flipped the script against Traverse City West on Wednesday night. The first time the two teams played, the Titans won in three sets. On Wednesday, it was the Vikings getting the sweep even while missing two key players.

“This week we were ready to go into West and I think we were pretty underestimated going in because of how it went the first time,” said senior Renee Brines. “We really turned it around and played really well.”

OPP/S Macey McKeever was forced to play right side hitter after the Vikings lost both of their right side hitters to injury in the days leading up to the game. She filled in nicely, helping Cadillac play a much better defensive game than it did in the first match against Traverse City West.

“Maybe because people saw that [we were shorthanded] they might have thought ‘well they might not do as well or what not.’ But you know this is a different team than when we played four weeks ago. We’ve just improved so much,” said head coach Michelle Brines.

“The first time we played them they aced us left and right and so our passing really had to come through as well for us tonight,” said Michelle Brines. “We had some key digs too and some huge blocks. I don’t think we had any blocks [for points] when we played them last time.”

With the win, Cadillac and Traverse City West are now tied atop the Big North Conference standings. Each team has one conference match left. If Cadillac tops Gaylord next week, the Vikings will clinch at least a share of the Big North once again. The Vikings have been conference or co-conference champions every year since 2015.

“There hasn’t been a year recently when we’ve been down. It’s good to keep on the tradition,” said Renee Brines.

Cadillac is the No. 9 team in the state in Division 2. Traverse City West is an honorable mention in Division 1.