Story written by Bay College SID Mike Pankow

ESCANABA, MI – The Bay College Norse Volleyball Team (10-14, 3-6) had to fight from behind on multiple occasions to pull off a thrilling five-set victory over the Delta College Pioneers (6-12, 3-5) on Saturday.

After the Pioneers took the first two sets by scores of 25-20 and 26-24, the Norse answered back, taking the last three sets by scores of 25-22, 27-25, and 15-13.

The Norse started off the match strong and rattled off six points to take a 6-1 lead, only to see Delta answer back with a six-point run of their own to tighten the score.  The set remained close until late, when the Norse stalled at 15 points, allowing the Pioneers to build a 19-15 lead, and eventually a 22-16 lead.  Bay fought back and closed the gap to within two, but a Delta timeout changed momentum, allowing the Pioneers to close out the first set.

Bay looked to take an advantage in the second set in the early going when Amber Caylor (FR, Wausaukee, WI), who was celebrating a birthday, rattled off two consecutive service aces, putting the home team up 7-4.  Delta climbed back into the mix however, taking a 9-8 lead. 

A Tianna Taylor (SO, Gwinn, MI) and Riley Johnson (FR, Chatham, MI) assisted block seemed to swing the momentum back in Bay's favor, sparking a run that put the Norse up five in the late going.  Delta showed their resiliency with a 7-2 run tying the set.

The two teams traded points and just when it seemed Bay had a leg up with a two-point lead, a controversial call halted everything.  After more than a five-minute break while officials sorted out the situation, Delta was awarded a point when it was determined that Bay served out of order.  The Pioneers quickly snatched the lead and although Bay was able to rally to tie the set at 24, Delta scored the next two points, putting themselves up 2-0 in the match.

With their backs against the wall, the Norse need an answer in the third set, and they were able to oblige.  Bay used a run to take a 15-14 run and force a Pioneer timeout, but the break did not stop the momentum.  The Norse extended their lead to four, and after a second Delta timeout, the Norse were able to fend off their guests.  Caylor sealed the win of the set with an ace, sending the match to a fourth set.

Caylor continued to have a hot hand at the service line to start the fourth as she helped Bay to a 5-0 lead in the early going.  The Norse looked very much in control building a 10-2 lead, but the reoccurring theme of the afternoon would not be lost in this set, as Delta found a way to swing momentum back in their favor.  An 8-1 run put the Pioneers within one as Bay called a timeout, and Delta would take their first lead of the set shortly after by a score of 17-6.

The Norse looked to be out of the running, down 24-20, but they found a way to pick themselves off the mat.  With Allie Roman (SO, Gladstone, MI) serving the home team found a spark, and rallied to take a 25-24 lead before Delta finally forced a side out.

Bay immediately responded, picking up the next two points and earning the chance for a fifth and decisive set.

The fifth set did not disappoint.  The two teams traded the lead on several occasions and found themselves tied at 11 late.  The Pioneers stepped up with the next two points, once again looking as though they would finally close out the match with a win.  The Norse had other ideas and quickly tied the set.  The home crowd erupted as Kylee Tadisch (FR, Coleman, WI) slammed home a kill to put Bay up 14-13, and exploded as the final Delta College attack attempt sailed wide of the sideline, giving the Norse the win in an emotional, hard-fought victory.

Leah Allan (FR, Oconto, WI) led the Norse attack with 14 kills and also collected 28 digs in the match.  Tadisch ended with 12 kills, while Taylor was credited with ten kills and eight assists.  Caylor had a strong day setting up the hitters, compiling 46 assists, five aces, and 15 digs.  Tori Jandt (Fr, Peshtigo, WI) once again led Bay with 44 digs.  Emma Rutter (FR, Chatham, MI) added 16 and Alissa Sanville (FR, Gladstone, MI) ended with 14 digs.

The Norse are still in play to earn the three seed in the District A Tournament, which would guarantee them a spot in the double-elimination style tournament.

Should Alpena beat them out for that three spot, the Norse will go into the District B Tournament as a fourth seed, and be forced to start the tournament in a single-elimination play-in game to continue play. Both District Tournaments are being held at St. Clair Community College in Port Huron on November 3.

Bay College is on the road next Saturday as they wrap up conference play against Alpena Community College.  They will then end the regular season schedule with a match at home against Finlandia University on October 25.  That match will be a "Volley for a Cure" event that will raise funds to fight cancer.