Hancock's Alice Larson (2) leads the celebration with the Copper Spike trophy Thursday at the Hancock High School gym. The Bulldogs defeated the Houghton Gremlins 3-0. (Eddie O’Neill/Daily Mining Gazette)

HANCOCK — The annual rivalry-volleyball game between the Houghton Gremlins and the Hancock Bulldogs came early this year. The Copper Spike, as the game is known, is typically held in October. This year it was held on Thursday of the second week of school, and it did not disappoint.

In a Hancock gym packed with fans and colorful decor, the Bulldogs gave the hometown crowd what they wanted – a win. They swept the Gremlins, 3-0 (25-14, 26-24, and 25-21) and kept the Copper Spike for a second year in a row.

“I am very proud of the girls,” said Bulldogs coach Brian Lampaa. “They competed very hard and well. They stayed in the moment.”

In the first set, the Bulldogs jumped out to a 9-4 lead and never looked back. With Briell L’Esperance on the service line, they pushed it out to a 13-6 lead. Momentum was with them as they kept the Gremlins on defense and out of system.

The second set was the best for Houghton. They took an early 3-1 lead with Sophie Hebert on the line serving. That morphed into a 13-8 lead for the Gremlins, but the Bulldogs bounced back to tie things at 14.

Senior Alice Larson, on the line for the Bulldogs, posted her second of four aces on the night to give her team a 15-14 lead. Romey Koskela then stepped up to push the score to 19-15.

The Gremlins, however, tied it at 20 and again at 23 and 24. Mia Lawson was leading the charge for the Gremlins with some strong serves, however the Bulldogs keep the Gremlins off balance and posted a 26-24 victory.

“We seemed to be in a better groove in the second set, but as a whole, we couldn’t find our groove the whole night,” said Gremlins coach Blaire Zenner. “We could not keep a server back on the line the whole night, and that is how we thrive.”

In the third set, the Gremlins fell behind 4-6, but were able to come back and tie things at seven. However, that is a close as they got.

They aggressive attach of the Bulldogs led by Azure Aho who had eight kills pushed the squad out to a 15-10 lead.

The Gremlins’ Alyssa Northey led a late surge from the service line and put her team within one at 17-18 and 20-21. However it was Larson who sealed the win at the line for the final three points and a 25-21 match-set point victory for the Bulldogs.

“Alice was not only good at the line but also as a setter tonight,” Lampaa said.

Another key, according to Lampaa, was defense.

Koskela had 21 digs. Lucy Biekkola followed with 18.

“Our defense and passing was very good,” Lampaa added. “That will be key moving forward. It was good to see.”

For the Gremlins, Ellie Hainault had four kills and four blocks. Emmy Pietila had 23 digs and two aces.

Up next

The Gremlins with travel to Negaunee on Thursday, Sept.18, for their next match. The Bulldogs travel to Gladstone Saturday, and then will welcome the Calumet Copper Kings on Thursday.