MUSKEGON TOWNSHIP – The Mona Shores volleyball team has proven that you can be the favorite and actually win the Greater Muskegon Athletic Association tournament.

The Sailors were the top seed coming into Saturday’s tournament at Reeths-Puffer High School, and history tells us that can be a curse.

As Mona Shores Coach Kathy Hellman put it, “Usually the number one team doesn’t win.”

But the Sailors lived up to their billing, beating Oakridge and Fruitport in the first two rounds, then downing Montague in four sets in the finals to capture the championship for the first time since 2014.

Mona Shores’ Grace Allen pounds a shot in the finals against Montague. Photo/Jeremy Clark

Mona Shores had to work to win in the finals. The Sailors captured the first set 25-17, lost the second 26-28, then finished off the Wildcats with a 26-24 win in the third set and a 25-14 victory in the fourth.

“Even when we were down, (the players) never got down on each other or themselves,” Hellmann said.

Leading the way for Mona Shores was senior middle hitter Ava Dunn, who totaled 40 kills in the three matches and made a big contribution defensively with eight blocks.

At several different points during the finals, Dunn came up with big plays to keep the Sailors on track to win, including two consecutive kills to give Mona Shores a tight win in the crucial third set.

Mona Shores’ Ava Dunn (7) tries to get the ball past a Montague player at the net. Photo/Jeremy Clark

Grace Allen also played a big role offensively for Mona Shores with 24 kills while Jersey VanderWall added 14. Kyann Hellmann set up the offense with 94 assists.

Defensively Allen and VanderWall each had five blocks and Izzy Sturtevant had 42 digs.

“This year she sees the court,” Coach Hellmann said about Dunn. “Last year I would say she was good, but this year she’s great.”

“I feel like I’ve improved upon my confidence, both serving and hitting,” Dunn said. “I just have so much more confidence when I hit the ball.”

Dunn and teammate Ali Trautner (3) go up for a block against Montague’s Britta Johnson. Photo/Jeremy Clark

Dunn said her team is playing its best volleyball of the year right now, as the season heads into its final weeks.

“I feel like we’re coming together as a team,” she said. “A couple weeks ago we were playing more individually, but we’re really coming together right now.”

Montague had an impressive day, despite losing in the finals. The Wildcats beat defending champion Western Michigan Christian in the first round and upset second-seeded North Muskegon to reach the title match.

Anastasia Trevino paced Montague on the day with 42 kills while Laura Borras had 37 and Britta Johnson added 26. Jaelyn Sundberg served five aces and totaled 119 assists.

Montague’s Jaelynn Sundberg (1) sets up a shot for a teammate. Photo/Jeremy Clark

Alissa Wynn paced the defense with 40 digs.

“Today we grew a lot,” said Montague coach Shawn Bectel, whose team is now 18-21-1. “This was a good test. I think we did a good job of fighting, but (Mona Shores’) height is tough to overcome.”

Mona Shores, now 22-9 on the season, will continue its bid for an O-K Green conference tournament title against powerful Zeeland East on the road on Tuesday.