Houghton's Maryellen Trewhella (7) hits the ball against Negaunee on Thursday, Sept. 17, 2020, in Houghton, Mich. (Adam Niemi/The Daily Mining Gazette)

HOUGTON — It was a back-and-forth battle for most of Thursday night between the Houghton Gremlins and the Negaunee Miners.

While the Miners had moments of strong play on both sides of the nets, it was the Gremlins who came out on top winning in three straight sets, 25-20, 25-13, 25-18.

“It was fun to watch and fun to be a part of,” said Gremlins head coach John Christianson. “I thought we did really well.”

Despite having to wear masks at practices and on the court in the age of COVID-19, both teams’ coaches said they and their teams are just happy to be playing.

“We are thankful to have a season,” Negaunee coach Sara MacDonald said. “The mask is tricky for some of the girls. It is an adjustment but we are all in this together.”

Christianson said he’s also happy the Gremlins have a season amidst the pandemic.

“We are getting to play the game the girls love, and that is the most important part,” he said. “We need to keep doing the things we have been doing so we can keep playing the game.”

Early on in the first set, Houghton senior Maryellen Trewhella got things going for the Gremlins with a big kill to put her team up 3-0. It was the first of 10 kills for her. She also had three aces and 11 digs on the night.

Negaunee came back to tie it at six, but Houghton rallied with a four-point run to make it 10-6. The Gremlins led for the rest of the night. While the Miners got within one at 15-14 with Natalie Bell on the line, it was the best they could do in the first.

“We have been putting a lot of focus on decision making,” Christianson said. “The girls are asking themselves, ‘What am a going to do with the ball? What is the smart play for me to keep the ball in play so later on we can finish it?'”

Gremlin junior Olivia Merriman knew what to do with the ball as she stepped up to the line to start the second set. She hit an ace and her squad was off the a 3-1 lead. However, the Miners would come back to take their first lead of the night at 4-3. However it was short-lived as the Gremlins pushed their lead to 8-4, then later secured the second set, 25-13.

“It felt like so many games within one match,” MacDonald said. “There were different times when we were on it and then we couldn’t put two points together.”

Negaunee put together their biggest lead early on in the third set as they moved out to an 8-5 advantage. With senior Katrina Symons at the line the, the Miners pushed it t a 13-10 advantage. The Gremlins tied it at 14-all and never looked back.

With the win the Gremlins move to 3-0 on the season. The Miners fell to 2-2.