Right, Calumet's Amber Johnson and Ava Anderson, left, celebrate a point against Houghton during Wednesday's district semifinal in Calumet. (Bryce Derouin/Daily Mining Gazette)

CALUMET — The ball soars over the net and Amber Johnson lays out. On the bench, Ava Anderson sits up straight. When Johnson connects with the ball for one of her 35 digs on the game, Anderson leaps up and lets out a loud cheer. 

It was a common sight Wednesday as Calumet defeated Houghton in four sets (25-12, 16-25, 25-14, 25-20) for the Class C district semifinal. 

When Anderson is on the bench, she’s Johnson’s biggest fan. And when they’re on the court together, they consider themselves partners in crime. 

The two share similar styles of play. Both are willing to do anything to stop the ball from hitting the ground, and both are perfectionists in practice and games — determined to fix every mistake. 

There is no one Johnson trusts on the court more than Anderson, and vice versa. “I love having another person who I know will dive for every ball,” Johnson said. “There is never a doubt in my mind that Ava will get it.”

Johnson, a senior libero and two-time West-PAC Defensive Player of the Year, is a staple on the Calumet volleyball team. But in Monday’s match against L’Anse, she was out sick and the Copper Kings turned to Anderson to take her place.

Johnson hated not being able to play, but she said the blow was cushioned knowing her junior counterpart would be on the court in her place. 

“I’m so confident in Ava that it made it easy to watch,” Johnson said.

This isn’t the first time Anderson has stepped in.

“Ava had to step into that role earlier in the Kingsford Tournament when Amber went down in the semifinal game,” Calumet coach Matt Laho said. “Everyone on the team was confident that she would do great against L’Anse.”

The Copper Kings took the match against L’Anse in three-straight sets with Anderson chipping in with 20 digs. 

This time, Calumet had Johnson back on the court, coughing between serves, but almost back to full health.

Johnson and Anderson prefer to be on the court together, but even when they’re not, Anderson is happy to serve as her senior teammate’s cheerleader. 

“It’s easy for me to focus on my mistakes and not see the good, but Ava reminds me to look at the positives,” Johnson said. 

Next year, when Johnson has graduated, it will be her turn to cheer on Anderson, and she has no problem passing on the torch.

“I’m excited for her because I know she’s going to be so great,” Johnson said. 

Anderson isn’t so sure. The two have been close friends since meeting during Anderson’s freshman basketball season, and she said she’s not looking forward to playing without Johnson.

“It is going to be hard not having my partner in crime at practice every day,” she said. “We miss each other when one of us is gone.”

They don’t have to worry about being separated just yet, as the Copper Kings can keep playing as long as they keep winning. Next up, Calumet takes on visiting Chassell, Thursday at 7 p.m. for the district championship.