Bulldogs volleyball sinks Lakes in three
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LAKE LINDEN --- There is a reason why the Hancock Bulldogs volleyball team has been voted No. 1 week after week in the Upper Peninsula Sportswriters and Sportscasters Association’s (UPSSA) poll. In short, they play very good volleyball and are hard to beat.
Just ask the Lake Linden-Hubbell Lakes, who are good in their own right, but fell in straight sets on their home court Tuesday to the Bulldogs, 25-21, 25-12 and 25-19.
"I liked our efficiency on the court tonight," said Bulldogs coach Brian Lamppa. "We cover the floor well, and we make the hard plays. My only complaint is that at times we are very good at making those difficult plays, but then are soft on easy balls."
The first set was Lake Linden-Hubbell’s best. They came out with a lot of energy and played the Bulldogs closely, staying with three to five points throughout. However, some strong service by the Bulldogs pushed the Hancock girls to the set victory.
While the two teams were knotted to start the second set, the Bulldogs pulled away to a 13-5 lead courtesy of Lucy Biekkola at the service line. Teammate Romey Koskela continued the push at the line to 20-7. The Bulldogs closed the set out with a set win.
Lamppa said this was his girls best set.
"We adjusted and went up by 10 or 11 points and put this one away," he explained.
Lakes coach Alyssa Burton admitted that her team could have played better in the second set.
"We appeared to be distracted and perhaps defeated after a strong first set," she said. "We need to learn how to channel our energy from the first set all the way through to the third."
The third set was similar to the second. It was a one-point difference for the first seven points. Then the Bulldogs pulled away with Biekkola back on the line. A 7-5 Hancock lead turned into a 13-6 difference thanks to her.
Zoey Benda kept the Bulldogs points adding up with a service run of five and a new lead of 18-9. While the Lakes were able to climb back into this one and even get within three points at 17-20 and 19-22, that is as good as it got.
"Game ball goes to Vaeda Brooks," said Lamppa. "We had to make some adjustments due to injury and she adjusted very well."
Up next
The Bulldogs will take a 24-2 record on the road to the Copper Spike against Houghton on Thursday. The Lakes will face Ironwood Tuesday to start the last week of the season.
Ontonagon 3, Chassell 0
CHASSELL -- The Chassell Panthers volleyball team fell to the visiting Ontonagon Gladiators Tuesday at the Ed Helakoski Gym. The Gladiators won 25-14, 25-19, and 25-17.
For Chassell, Oriana Olson had five kills, three blocks, two aces and 11 digs. Hilde Kuntze had eight kills, one block, and four aces. Sylvia Aho had 16 assists.
Calumet 3, Houghton 2
CALUMET -- The Houghton Gremlins volleyball team traveled north to Calumet only to fall to the Copper Kings in five sets, 25-23, 15-25, 25-20, 20-25, and 11-15.
Offensively, Skylar Sajdak had six kills and four blocks for the Gremlins. Annika Henquinet had a team-high seven kills. Alyssa Northey paced the team with 27 assists, 14 digs, and three aces.
Katia Rudak drove the defense with 46 digs and one ace.