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	The Ypsilanti Courier A Heritage Newspaper Weekly Publication

Lady Braves look to district play

Spikers would face Belleville with win Thursday

By Bruce Mason, Special Writer

PUBLISHED: March 1, 2007

The opening round of district volleyball play starts at 6 p.m. Thursday as the Lady Braves face off against Westland.

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Heading into the game, Ypsilanti head coach Ryan Minarik won't have to worry about a recent "curse" that had been hurting his team.

Referencing a letter praising his team from Garden City volleyball coach John Pace, Ypsilanti spikers have been on a downward spiral ever since they received the letter that proclaimed Ypsilanti would finish 5–1 or 6–0 in the second half of the league schedule.

After enduring a losing streak immediately after the letter was received, Minarik said his team needed to "reverse the curse."

Ypsilanti did just that in a victory against Lincoln Park; 25–12, 25–21 and 25– 16.

"It was fun to watch," said Minarik, whose team is now 7–26–3 overall and 2–10 in conference play, surpassing the win total from last season.

In the Lincoln Park win, Kaila Claxton led the way with 11 kills while Heather Curry trailed right behind with 10 kills and Sarah Muse set a school record with 36 assists.

Muse assisted in a little over 80 plays in the three games, Minarik said, en route to her record-breaking performance.

"That was unbelievable," he said.

So now it's onto districts, a victory over Westland would set up a date with Belleville 10 a.m. Saturday.

"If we somehow beat Westland in our district," Minarik said, "we'll have to run our quick offense to beat Belleville."

Bruce Mason is a freelance sports writer for The View and Courier newspapers. He can be reached through editor@ypsilanticourier.com.