Lakes volleyball sails past Gladiators in straight sets
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LAKE LINDEN -- While the Lake Linden-Hubbell Lakes swept the Ontonagon Gladiators on Thursday in three straight sets, it was not as easy a win as Lakes coach Alyssa Roose thought it could be. The Lakes dispatched the Gladiators 25-14, 25-20, and 25-19.
"They (Ontonagon) came out stronger than we expected," said Roose. "They came out with gusto. They are scrappy, letting very little fall to the floor."
She loved the high energy in the Lakes first set. A 5-2 Lakes lead in the opening set turned into a 13-8 lead and the Lakes never looked back. At the service line, junior Payton Goldsworthy and Emily Burnham both served up three aces. Add to that eight kills by Addeline Schmitt and a strong defense, and the Lakes won this one by 11 points.
"We hit well in the second set," noted Roose.
The second set, like the first, started out close during the first 10 points. It was tied at three. However, a strong service run by Burnham put the Lakes up 15-8, and helped lead them to an eventual 25-20 victory.
As a team that set, the Lakes had nine kills with Schmidt leading the charge with three.
"In the third set, our energy died down a bit," Roose added. "That has been a trend for us as I preach that we need to keep the energy up obviously in all three sets."
In set three, the Gladiators took their first lead of the night at 9-6 and 13-10. However, the Lakes kept their composure and bounced back after a tie at 17. With Goldsworthy at the line posting a service run of four, the Lakes came back to win the set.
With the victory, Roose had no hesitation in giving the game ball in Thursday’s matchup to senior Jovie Daniels. Daniels had six kills on the night.
"She hit the ball well," stated her coach. "Very good placement with her kills."
Up next
The Lakes will head to Chassell on Monday to face the Panthers. Ontonagon’s next match is set for Monday as well. They will take on Ewen Trout-Creek at home.