Hancock's Jana Pietila goes up for the kill in a Division 4 District 98 semifinal playoff game against Baraga Wednesday in Hancock. (Eddie O’Neill/Daily Mining Gazette)

HANCOCK — The Hancock Bulldogs volleyball team still has at least one more game to play this season. On Wednesday, they ended the Baraga Vikings’ season with a 3-0 sweep in Division 4 District 98 semifinal action. Scores were 25-19, 25-11 and 25-18.

“I liked our consistency,” noted Bulldogs coach Brian Lampaa. “We served well and played consistent defense.”

In the first set, the Bulldogs made a come-from-behind win. After ties at seven, eight, 11 and 12, Baraga’s Allyssa Holley served up go-ahead points 13 and 14. That morphed into an 18-15 lead before the Bulldogs knotted it at 18 with Chloe Bastian on the line. Bastian pushed the lead to 21-18, and she and her teammates went on to win the first set.

In the second, the Bulldogs dominated at the service line. It was Bastian who served the team out to a 10-1 lead. This included three aces.

“We had a lot of aces and that put a lot of pressure on them, and that took them out of system,” Lampaa added.

With Alice Larson on the line, the Bulldogs were up 20-8. From there, they scored five of the final eight points to win the set.

“Chloe Bastian, our libero, gets the game ball,” said Lampaa. “She served well and made multiple plays on defense for us. She had 23 digs.”

Azure Aho had 10 kills for the Bulldogs.

The third set opened with ties at four, five and nine before Larson went on a service run of four and put the Bulldogs up 18-10. From there, they were able to win the set and complete the sweep.

Despite the loss, Baraga coach Corey Pietila was quite pleased with her girls’ season.

“Compared to last year, where we won just five or six games, this season has been phenomenal,” she stated. “We finished at 22-11. We are young and are only going to get better. These girls work hard, and I am proud of them.”

Up next

With the win, the Bulldogs will play for the Division 4 District 98 title Friday against Lake Linden-Hubbell. Opening serve is set for 6 p.m. at the Hancock gym.