Calumet's back line consisting of (left to right) Jess Anderson, Brylinn Antilla and Bailey Strom prepare to receive a Houghton serve during a match Tuesday at the Calumet gym. (Eddie O’Neill/For the Gazette)

CALUMET — The Calumet Copper Kings volleyball team opened the first set of their match against the Houghton Gremlins on Tuesday with a 5-0 lead and never really looked back. They went on to win to sweep the Gremlins in three straight sets, 25-23, 25-23 and 25-20.

“I liked how we played in system,” said Copper Kings coach Kate Bonacorsi. “Our passing in serve-receive was spot on.”

Leading the service charge in the first set was Millie Loukus. While the Gremlins tied things at 14, and got within one at 24-23, the Copper Kings had the final say at 25-23.

Gremlins coach Blaire Zenner did not like her squad’s slow start.

“It took us a while to get ready to go each set,” she said. “By the time we were playing at speed, we had already dug a hole and now had to work extra hard to get beyond that.”

Case and point was the second set. While the Copper Kings (13-9-1) led by as much as five, the Gremlins (7-5) came back to tie this one at 13 and 14 with Alyssa Northey on the line. They even took a brief lead at 16-15 and again at 17-16. It was knotted again at 20 and the race was on to 25. The Copper Kings won the sprint by two.

“Our libero, Jess Anderson, did a great job tonight,” said Bonacorsi. “She had 17 digs. Chloe Coppo also helped with 13 kills.”

Houghton opened the third set with a 3-0 lead, but it was short-lived. With Grace Keranen on the line, the Copper Kings went up 6-4.

While the Gremlins tied it at six, Loukus posted a service run of five and a 14-9 lead for the Calumet girls. They kept that lead going the rest of the set.

Ellie Hainault led the Gremlins with six kills. Kate Filpus and Lydia Williams both had five.

Up next

The Copper Kings travel to Gwinn Thursday to face the Modeltowners. The Gremlins welcome Kingsford to their gym.