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CALUMET - Because its co-operative program with Jeffers put it over the enrollment cut line, Chassell is competing in the Class C district volleyball tournament for the first time.

After Monday, the Panthers have found much to like about their new neighborhood. Chassell claimed its first Class C postseason victory by eliminating L'Anse 3-1 (25-20, 18-25, 25-18, 25-20).

"We're kind of like the underdogs," Chassell coach Gael Filpus said. "In districts, anything can happen."

The Panthers weren't perfect, but played their best at the beginning and the end to advance to a district semifinal matchup with Ironwood Wednesday at 5 p.m.

"When we communicate, we will win. Throughout several times in the games, especially game two, communication stopped and L'Anse caught up," Filpus said.

Chassell started the match with a seven-point run, which include three aces from Gina Kilpela. The Purple Hornets pulled within 16-15, but Chassell took the serve back on a L'Anse service error, then scored three more points to expand the lead to 20-15, enough to carry to the finish.

In the second set, Chassell was up 16-11 and rolling until giving up eight straight points on libero Jackie Dove's serve to take control. Playing with the lead for the first time, the Purple Hornets closed it out quickly.

L'Anse coach Kristina Penfold was proud of her team's effort level despite the defeat.

"Sometimes we have a hard time with our focus, and our focus was much better tonight," she said.

Chassell had no defining run in set three, but a combination of three- and four-pointers was enough for the Panthers to take control and keep it. With L'Anse on the ropes, the Panthers kept

punching, scoring the first six points of the fourth set and going up 11-2. However, L'Anse didn't throw in the towel, putting together an eight-point run on Brooke Davis's serve to come within 18-17. Chassell fended off that and another attempt to tie the set with kills, then closed out the match with a four-point run as Kilpela served out L'Anse with an ace on match point.

"They had some consistent servers and we just had a hard time picking them up," Penfold said.

L'Anse's Sam Nagele had a team-high 19 digs. Nicole Parker added 11 and Rebecca Augustine 10.

Offensively, Parker and Jessica Lawson led with two kills apiece, while Cassandra Evans was the leading server with three aces.

For Chassell, Mara Ryynanen had a match-best seven kills, but Filpus credited setters Kilpela and Hannah Kangas for helming a diverse Chassell attack in which three others had at least four kills, including five from Kara Daavettila and Lauretta Kangas and four from Lauren Hietala.

She said retaining focus will be important as the Panthers vie for a district title shot Wednesday.

"It's the little things that are going to pull us away from the opponents," she said.

Brandon Veale can be reached at bveale@mininggazette.com.