Calumet celebrates a point well earned during a match against Marquette Tuesday in the Calumet gym. (Eddie O’Neill/For the Gazette)

CALUMET — The Calumet Copper Kings volleyball came out swinging on the volleyball court on Tuesday and just kept swinging. The girls in blue and gray defeated the visiting Marquette Sentinels 3-0 (25-15, 25-16 and 25-18).

“I liked the energy on the floor tonight,” said Copper Kings coach Kate Bonacorsi. “Our serve-receive was excellent.”

In the first set, the Copper Kings jumped out to a 6-4 lead. However, with Marquette’s Lilly DeMeuse on the line, the Sentinels tied it at eight, nine and 11. That was as close as they got to the Copper Kings in the set.

With Bailey Strom serving, Calumet took a 15-12 lead, and Millie Loukus put a service run of six together to close out the set.

Bonacorsi added that her girls served well, not just in the first set, but throughout the night.

“Service was strong,” she said. “They put the ball into play.”

The second set was much the same. The Copper Kings controlled the tempo, and the Sentinels could not catch up.

“We were flat,” said Sentinels coach Melissa Butler. “We didn’t communicate well and adjust to their hitters.”

The third set followed suit with the first and second.

After a 4-4 knot, the Copper Kings were up by as much as six at 19-13 with Strom at the line. She posted a seven-point run, and the Copper Kings closed this one out at 25-18.

Bonacorsi said the game ball goes to their libero, Jess Anderson.

“Jess passed really, really well and was all over the floor digging balls,” Bonacorsi said. “She had 16 digs.”

Millie Loukus followed her with 12 digs.

At the net for the Copper Kings, Amiina Tarnowski and Chloe Coppo each had nine kills.

With the win, the Copper Kings improve to 6-5.


Up next

The Copper Kings travel to Hancock on Thursday to face the Bulldogs.