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CALUMET - The Calumet Copper Kings have been to the mountain before, but are still seeking the summit.

Thursday, they took confident steps down a trail they know well, dominating the Class C district championship match in their home gym in a 3-0 (25-8, 25-15, 25-13) sweep of Ironwood.

"Years ago, when we first started, our goal was to win the district. That was our final goal. Now, the kids have a taste and know that (postseason success) is achievable, so they continue to push themselves each day in practice," Calumet coach Lisa Twardzik said of the school's fifth consecutive district championship team.

The Copper Kings kept Ironwood off-balance all night. With the exception of tall junior Taylor DuFault, Ironwood was at a size disadvantage, so it focused its defense away from the net in hopes of digging Calumet's attacks, which was easier planned than done.

Setter Marisa Torola had her usual array of attacking options and they did not disappoint - Kathleen Moyryla had a match-high 17 kills, Jenna Hyrkas added 10 and Stephanie Bonenfant seven.

Torola called them her "go-to girls."

Calumet was particularly strong in the middle, where the attack could pick from two sides and normally guessed right.

"They run sets from all sides of the court and can hit anything. It's really fun to work with them," Torola said of her attackers, to whom she dished out 32 assists.

Of particular effectiveness for Moyryla was the "quick" play. Moyryla begins her approach before Torola even touches the ball, and Thursday, she was getting many hard kills before the Red Devils knew what was coming.

"The quick increases the intensity of the game," Torola said.

Twardzik noted that for the quick to be successful, it had to be set up in the back row.

"It all comes back to ball control, too, Abby Junttila and the rest of the people in the back row passing to target to set that up," she said.

Junttila posted 16 digs. Hyrkas added 13 and Madelaine Steber 12.

Calumet seized control of this match from the start. Moyryla had four kills in a six-point run that put the Copper Kings up 11-3 and built from there.

The Copper Kings opened set two with a pair of six-point runs on Hyrkas' and Steber's serve and went up 12-2 early as several reserves helped guide the team to a 2-0 lead.

In the third, Ironwood kept Calumet close for longer, not allowing the Kings to score more than three straight points, but never put together more than two straight of their own.

Calumet steadily pulled away, finishing the district title on Moyryla's fourth and final block.

"We're feeling extremely pumped and it's really nice to win as seniors in our home gym," Torola said.

The Copper Kings will play again Tuesday night at Iron Mountain in the regional semifinals against Negaunee at 7:30 p.m. EST. The other semi pits hosts Iron Mountain against Rudyard.

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