The Baraga volleyball team celebrates a well-earned point during a Division 4 District 98 quarterfinal match Monday against Dollar Bay-Tamarack City in Dollar Bay. (Eddie O’Neill/Daily Mining Gazette)

DOLLAR BAY — It took four sets, but the Baraga Vikings volleyball team got the job done on the court Monday in the first round of district play downing the Dollar Bay-Tamarack City Blue Bolts, 3-1. Scores in the match were 25-8, 23-25, 25-13 and 25-16.

“Other than a few bumps here and there, I was very proud of the way the girls played tonight,” said Vikings coach Corey Pietila.

In particular, she liked how the girls dominated the first set from the service line, which led to a first set win.

“They served phenomenally in that first set,” she said. “I think we had just one serving error in that one.”

While the Vikings owned the first set, the Blue Bolts took the second. After a 3-3 tie, the girls from Dollar Bay led 9-4 with Nora Keranen leading the charge from the service line. While Baraga got withing two points, and even tied it at 17 and 22, the Blue Bolts won the race with a 25-23 victory.

“That was obviously our best set,” said Blue Bolts coach Sarah Audette. “I just wished we could have maintained that energy and spirit throughout. Otherwise, we were flat.”

That fighting Blue Bolts’ spirit continued into the third until around the 10th point. After a 9-9 tie, Baraga pushed out to a 14-11 lead with Kensei Jahfetson on the service line. Teammate Makenna Hendrickson gave the Vikings even more of a lead with a service of seven to make it 21-12. They went on to win the third set, and take control of the match.

It was a back-and-forth battle in the fourth set with five ties in just the opening 12 points. However, with Hendrickson on the line and outside hitter Elisa Delene on fire, the Vikings pulled out to an 18-11 lead and never looked back.

“Elisa did a great job tonight,” said Pietila. “I was also pleased how he girls talked and moved as a team in that third and fourth set.”

The Vikings won the fourth set 25-16.

With the loss, the Blue Bolts season came to an end. According to Audette, it was a challenging season with lots of ups and downs.

“I will say that the girls gave it their all most of the time,” she said, “and that is all that I can ask of them.”

UP NEXT

Baraga will face Chassell in semifinal play on Wednesday at 6 p.m. at the Baraga Gym. The other semifinal matchup will feature Lake Linden-Hubbell and L’Anse.