Girls High School Volleyball Season Gets Underway

SAULT STE. MARIE---The 2015 girls high school volleyball season got started on Saturday with several tournaments in the Upper Peninsula.

In Sault Ste. Marie, the Escanaba Eskymos and Gladstone Braves competed in an eight-team invitational on Saturday. The two Delta County teams were in the same pool, and faced each other in the morning. Escanaba won, 2-0, by scores of 21-7, 22-20.

The Eskymos later lost their other pool play matches to Brimley, 2-0, and to Sault Ste. Marie, also 2-0. The day ended with a 2-0 loss in bracket play to Rogers City.

"We definitely did not play to our full potential," Escanaba Coach Theresa Heidt said. "But we do know what we need to improve on. We didn't win, but we definitely had fun. We have lots to practice on, but the season is early. We have great potential."

As for the Gladstone Braves, it was a 0-for-trip to the Sault, with four 2-0 losses. The first match saw the Braves fall to the host Sault Blue Devils, 21-18, 21-7.

"The girls came out strong," Gladstone Coach Liz Gendron said. "Amber Lenards had an awesome block against their #1 player."

Gladstone then lost to Brimley, 2-0, by scores of 21-15, 21-16.

"Poor passing, which led to so many unearned errors," Gendron said. "I think they know thay they let that one slip away."

And as for the 2-0 loss to Escanaba?

"We couldn't put anything together," Gendron said. "We had some very nice digs, but couldn't capitalize on them."

Then, in bracket play, Gladstone fell to top-seeded Petoskey, 2-0 (25-7, 25-9).

"Overall, the girls worked hard," Gendron said. "There are some great athletes on this team. We were without Chasey (Williams) because she sprained her ankle yesterday. Zoie (Berg) played awesome all day in a 5-1 offense. The girls realize how much faster this game is now, and hopefully, they are excited to move forward and really exccel."

Jenna Steinhoff led the Braves with eleven kills, four acesm two blocks, eight digs, and two assists. Berg had 19 assists, one ace, seven digs, four kills, and one block. Tasi Martinez contributed three kills, 12 digs, three blocks, and two assists.

The eight teams entered in the Sault tournament were: Escanaba, Gladstone, Marquette, Houghton, Sault Ste. Marie, Brimley, Petoskey, and Rogers City.

Gladstone will travel to Peshtigo (Wis.) on Tuesday (Sept. 1), and will have their home opener Thursday night (Sept. 3) against defending GNC Champion Stephenson.

Escanaba will host Iron Mountain in the home opener this Tuesday night at 7:00 ET.

CALUMET WINS KINGSFORD INVITE---Two U.P. powerhouse volleyball teams met in the finals of the Kingsford Volleyball Invitational on Saturday.

Calumet and Crystal Falls Forest Park have routinely made long postseason runs, and they met each other in pool play to start Saturday's event. It ended tied at 1-1, with Calumet winning the first set, 21-14, and Forest Park winning the second set, 21-18.

Both teams advanced out of pool play with 2-1 records.

In the semifinals, Forest Park needed three sets to battle past Kingsford, 2-1 (22-20, 20-22, and 15-8 in the deciding set). Calumet won over Hancock, setting up a Trojans-Copper Kings championship. Calumet won both sets, 22-20 and 21-14, to win the title.

The eight teams entered in the Kingsford tournament were: Calumet, Forest Park, Norway, Iron Mountain, Kingsford, North Dicknson, Hancock, and Negaunee.