The Calumet High School volleyball team celebrates with the MHSAA Division 3 District 33 trophy after defeating Hancock 3-0 on Thursday, Nov. 4, 2021, in Hancock, Mich. (Eddie O’Neill/The Daily Mining Gazette)

HANCOCK — The Calumet Copper Kings volleyball team did what they do best on Thursday — winning.

Calumet swept Hancock to win the MHSAA Division 3 District 33 championship. The Copper Kings posted scores of 25-10, 25-5 and 25-20.

With the win, the Copper Kings will head to Westwood on Tuesday for regional, semifinal play against the winner of the Iron Mountain-Manistique game Friday night.

In the first two sets, the Copper Kings were able to keep the Bulldogs to 10 points at most. Service runs and near-perfect defense were paramount to rolling momentum Calumet’s way. In the first set, Lizzie Torola opened with six-point run. Several volleys later, Calumet libero Jana Loukus went on a run of eight.

Hancock head coach Heather L’Esperance saw the frustration on her girls’ faces as they tried to get their offense going. The Bulldogs didn’t put a service run of two together for most of the night. They often went to the line for a serve and turned it right back over to the Copper Kings.

“We couldn’t get runs tonight because we were struggling in other areas,” L’Esperance said. “Our serve was strong but because we couldn’t run our offense, we couldn’t roll with those points.”

In the second set, the Bulldogs got to four and were stuck as Calumet’s Alexis Strom put up a run of ten. She was helped by five other Copper Kings who were determined to not let the ball hit the floor. There were several one-handed dives by Loukus which saved the Copper Kings. As well, there were big blocks at the net and strong swing from the West PAC Player of the Year, Helen Beiring. She led with 13 kills.

“The girls’ intensity was really good especially in those first two sets,” said Calumet head coach Kate Bonacorsi. “As well, they communicated well and wouldn’t let a ball drop.”

The Bulldogs’ best set was the third where they stayed with the Copper Kings throughout, albeit five or six points behind. However, that changed when Isabelle Hebert stepped up to the line and put together a run of four to make it 20-17. It was too late in the game as the Copper Kings closed out the match with a 25-20 win.

“The fight came too late tonight,” L’Esperance said. “We needed to play more confident and more calm. Our serve-receive was lacking and so we couldn’t run our offense. I was hoping for a better outcome. But, I am very proud of my girls. Other than tonight our last several game have been awesome, and it added to a great season.”

ALSO: Baraga swept Jeffers 3-0 in the MHSAA Division 4 District 98 championship. No stats or information was provided before press time.