Paul Peterson photo Lake Linden-Hubbell's Erin Seppala defends at the net against Baraga in Monday's district tourney play at Dollar Bay. The Lakes advanced to the finals against Dollar Bay.

DOLLAR BAY — Dollar Bay and Lake Linden-Hubbell gained a spot in the Class D district volleyball finals with victories Monday night.

In the opening match at the DBHS Gym, the host Blue Bolts had to hold off Ontonagon in five sets.

The Lakes, the heavy favorites in the districts, lost a set to Baraga before winning in four.

LL-Hubbell will meet Dollar Bay at 7 p.m. Thursday in the championship match.

Dollar Bay 3, Ontonagon 2

After being two points away from sweeping the match in three sets, the Blue Bolts had to hold off the hard-charging Gladiators to win the fifth set.

“We had our chances to win earlier, but they (Glads) battled back and made it tough on us,” DB coach Erin Gast said after the 25-15, 25-19, 23-25, 19-25, 15-13 cliffhanger.

Coach Becky Pantti’s OAHS squad forged its comeback behind the steady play of Holly Wardynski and Belle Lutz.

In the fifth and decisive set, the Wardzynski-led Gladiators led by two points on two occasions at 8-6 and 10-8.

But Dollar Bay seniors Natalie Maxson, Bobbi Jo Caskey and junior Emma Stout all made big plays down the stretch to pull the Red, White and Blue through.

Maxson, who recorded 16 kills on the night, sent the match-clincher off an Ontonagon defender.

“She (Maxson) was really consistent all night,” Gast noted. “She made some big plays in the clutch.”

Caskey “was all over the court, “according to her coach. She had 15 digs for the game.

Stout and senior Sadie Iacono were cited for reading the Gladiators defense and setting up teammates.

Wardynski paced her team in all vital areas (digs, aces, kills) in playing a strong game.

Gast said meeting the Lakes (her alma mater) will be challenging.

“We know how good they are and have been for a long time,” she said. “But I like the way we’re playing right now. We’ll give it our best shot.”

LL-H 3, Baraga 1

The Lakes came out swinging against the Vikings, who seemed to be a step or two behind in the first set.

Veteran LL-H coach Maureen Schick said before the game that opening round district games are the toughest to prepare for.

“You’re never quite sure how your team is going to come into the districts,” she said. “But we got off to a good start and took the first set. But we got kind of careless, in the second set, and Baraga took advantage.”

With a 25-23 upset under their belt, the Vikings of coach Heather Chosa appeared they might be ready to spring an upset.

But the seasoned Lakes regrouped behind the strong play of junior Mariah Willmer and sophomore Joslyn Perala to take the last two sets by scores of 25-13 and 25-10.

“Mariah Willmer has really been playing well lately,” Schick noted. “Tonight, she had 17 kills. And Joslyn (Perala) did a fine job at the libero position with 16 digs.”

Senior leader Laura Lyons was her usual steady self with 34 assists while serving up seven aces.

Erin Seppala recorded nine kills, while fellow senior Maija Codere added eight kills.

Baraga was led by Stephanie Hadden and Alex Jahfetson.

Schick expects Dollar Bay to come out for the title game fired up.

“They’re playing in their own gym and you know they’re going to be ready,” she said. “We have to be ready to play Lake Linden volleyball. If we do, we can win.”