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The Lady Eagles captured the school's first post-season title since 1999, disposing of Kingston and Peck, on their home court for the Class D District championship. Deckerville, now 18-19-2 overall, advances to Regional action this Saturday at Bay City All Saints and will meet Saginaw-Michigan Lutheran Seminary in the first semifinal at 10 a.m.

Playing in the rugged Greater Thumb Conference, provided the Lady Eagles with just two wins in the East Division this fall, but it prepared them for tournament play. After knocking off Kingston in straight games, 25-17, 25-15, 25-18 in the semifinals last Saturday, Deckerville swept Peck, 25-22, 25-7, 25-8 in the title match.

"The girls are very excited about it," said Deckerville coach Carl Krumenacker on the District crown, only the third in volleyball in the school's history. "Playing in the (Greater Thumb) with a lot of good teams was tough. But the girls got their confidence up and played hard."

Krumenacker has been stressing defense the last couple of seasons as the Deckerville coach, but improvement has come in more ways than that.

"Our overall game is better," explained Krumenacker. "We don't have to over-play now like we did in the (Greater Thumb). We're playing in more control and it's helped us out."

Senior Ashley Szymanski leads that all-around play. On Saturday, she finished with 23 kills, 26 digs and was perfect on 28 serve attempts. Junior Dana Stolicker led the team in digs with 28 and also had 10 kills and Kelsey Smith led the setting with 26 assists. Also chipping in were Tricia Nichol with 19 kills, Katelyn Salowitz with 16 digs, and Lisa Rumptz with 11-11 serving and 15 assists.

For Peck in the title game, junior Tonya McCann had seven service points, two aces, two digs, two kills, and a block. Meanwhile, senior Sarah Long had eight points, three aces and two digs. Kelsey Schell had 36 sets.

The Lady Pirates were without middle-hitter Mary Snider, the team's tallest player, who was out with non-serious injuries sustained in an automobile accident.

"Deckerville has a good team and they deserved to win," said Trisha Bussey, Peck coach. "We didn't have any height in front without Mary and that made a difference, too."

Peck 25, 25, 25 New Life Christian 6, 23-21

Sophomore Erin Navarro's hot serving in the first game of the semifinal match sparked the win for the Lady Pirates. She produced 18 straight points in that game and finished the match with 24 points, including six aces, and also had three kills.

Peck also had seven points and five aces from Nicole Pries, six points and three aces from McCann, eight points and three aces from Long, and 36 sets from Schell.

Kingston 25, 25, 25 CPS 23, 15, 19

CPS was ousted in the first round of the District on Saturday.

Amanda Maher led the serving for the Lady Tigers with 10 points, including four aces Other stat leaders were: Patricia Thoms seven points, four aces; Nichole Storm six points, three aces, three blocks; Melissa Fraser six digs; and Dawn Albrecht four kills, four blocks.