×

Copper Kings remain undefeated with sweep of Purple Hornets

L’ANSE — The Calumet Copper Kings volleyball team traveled to L’Anse to take on the Purple Hornets in a WestPAC matchup Thursday. The Copper Kings came into the game 5-0 and had yet to lose a set (15-0). The high-powered Calumet team won the match 3-0, extending the unbeaten streak to six while saying undefeated in the individual sets.

“We have a lot of weapons, and we have been serving really tough,” Calumet coach Kate Bonacorsi said about the team’s success.

Despite the win, Bonacorsi felt the Copper Kings felt they could have played better.

“I didn’t think we served as well tonight, and L’Anse served well against us,” she said. “They had a lot of energy, and we need to do a better job of creating a sense of urgency, all the time, through every set that we play.”

Helen Beiring had 16 kills for the Kings, Madelyn Torola added five, and Jackie Kiilunen chipped in with four. Allison Bjorn aced five serves.

The score was not indicative of the level of play from the Purple Hornets.

“That was probably the best communication we have seen all year,” said L’Anse coach Chad Rice. “We knew going into the game this was going to be tough, and I just wanted to be in the games, and we were in all three of them.”

The set scores were 25-13, 25-17, and 25-16. In the final set, the Hornets had a 13-9 lead and looked like they would win the set.

“We were ahead in the third game for a while, but they are so big,” said Rice. “It’s hard to get anything on them, and they are so fast in the backfield. I’m proud of how the girls played tonight,” Rice said.

Sophia Rice scored 10 times for L’Anse.

The game started, and the Copper Kings jumped ahead 3-0. Calumet won three out of the following five serves and held a 6-2 advantage. The Purple Hornets outscored the Copper Kings five to four to make it 10-7. The score was 14-9, and the Kings rattled off six straight points with Bjorn at the service line. The 20-9 deficit was too much for the Hornets to overcome, and the Kings took set one, 25-13.

A quick L’Anse start set them up with a four-point lead in the second, 5-1. Calumet won eight of the next eleven points to cut the Purple Hornets’ lead to 10-9. Like the first set, Bjorn set the Kings on a run of seven to give them some breathing room, 16-11. Then Calumet scored nine, and L’Anse scored six. The Copper Kings won the set 25-17 and took a two games to none lead.

Calumet had a 6-4 third set lead in the first ten volleys. The Purple Hornets won nine of the next twelve serves to make the score 13-9 in their favor. With the score at 13-11 L’Anse, Kiilunen was serving for the Copper Kings, and they scored seven times in a row. Up 20-13, Calumet fought off the hardworking L’Anse team and won the set 25-16, and took home the 3-0 victory.

Up next

L’Anse will play Lake Linden on Tuesday. Calumet will host Houghton the same night.

Newsletter

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *
   

Starting at $4.62/week.

Subscribe Today