Chassell’s Kylee Sohlden steps up to the line to serve during a match against Lake Linden-Hubbell Monday in Lake Linden. (Eddie O’Neill/Daily Mining Gazette)

LAKE LINDEN — The Lake Linden-Hubbell Lakes volleyball team took care of the Chassell Panthers on Monday with a three-set sweep – 25, 14, 25-8 and 25-15. According to Lakes coach Joslynn Perala, it was a team win.

“The girls worked well together tonight when they needed to,” she said. “Our defense was strong, and our serving was solid. That has been the trend these last few games which has been good to see.”

In essence, the Lakes (6-3) played their brand of volleyball and let the Panthers (0-8) beat themselves. This included pulling out to a 12-6 lead in the first match. While the Panthers’ Whitney Walitalo was able to post a four-point service run midway through the first, it wouldn’t be enough. A 19-11 Lakes lead turned into a set victory.

The second set was characterized by strong service runs courtesy of the Lakes. First to the line was libero Ashlyn Steves, who posted a run of six moving the scored from 10-6 to 16-7. Then, teammate Alli Corrigan led the team closer to 25 with a four-point service run, and Payton Goldsworthy was at the line for the final three points and the 25-8 win.

“Alli has been a strong server for us not just tonight but throughout the season,” Perala added. “Becca Lyons is right there with her. What I really like though is that fact that we have girls stepping up and taking charge as needed.”

The third set was the Panthers’ best as they battled the Lakes to a 4-4 tie, but they could not escape another strong service run by the Lakes’ Steves that kept them at four and moved the Lakes up to 11. As Chassell struggled to catch up and keep the ball in play, the Lakes continued to tally the points. Led by Abi Codere, who had six kills, the Lakes took an eight-point lead at 18-10 and won this one 25-14.

Codere and Steves both had four aces.

Despite the loss, coach Kim Aho of Chassell noted that her young team has come along way since the start of the season.

“We’ve been focusing on defense this past week in practice,” she said, ” and we did a better job of blocking attacks tonight. Kylee Sohlden, Whitney Walitalo and Dusty Lippold all had blocks at the net which was good to see. We need to continue to improve on our serve receive and being more aggressive with out offense attack.”

UP NEXT

The Lakes will welcome the L’Anse Purple Hornets to Lake Linden next Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. Meanwhile, the Panthers will welcome the Dollar Bay-Tamarack City Blue Bolts on Friday at 6:30 p.m.