PELLSTON – The Onaway volleyball team began the 2016 season off on a strong this weekend with a runner-up finish at a tournament in Pellston.

After remaining perfect in pool play, the Cardinals faced Kingsley in the tournament final and took the Stags to three sets, ultimately losing 25-16, 7-25 and 12-15.

“The first two sets were flip-flopped. We dominated the first set even though the score doesn’t show it and they got us in the second one,” Onaway coach Steve Watson said. “The third set was back-and-forth the whole way and it was a good match.”

Onaway advanced to the finals after beating Charlevoix 25-10, 25-22 in the semifinals.

In pool play, the Cardinals defeated Bay City All Saints 25-16, 25-10; Indian River Inland Lakes 25-18, 25-18; Cheboygan 25-11 and 25-17 and East Jordan 25-21, 25-18. The victory over the Chiefs was Onaway’s first in several years of close head-to-head matchups.

Alison Lafave and Jaclyn Nash both made the all-tournament team for the Cardinals. Lafave had 28 kills, two aces, 30 digs, seven assists and three blocks. Nash had 10 kills, six aces, 27 digs and five assists.

Vydailya Letts added 24 kills, 16 aces, 25 digs and four blocks for Onaway and Taylor Ehrke had 16 kills, 10 aces, 25 digs, four blocks and 97 assists. Maddie McLean had 21 kills, 30 digs and 13 assists and Noel Nash chipped in with 13 kills, 15 digs and two blocks. Kennedy Crawford rounded things out with 12 kills, three aces and 13 digs.

Onaway plays at a tournament in Cadillac on Thursday.