RIVALRY BATTLE: Esky Outlasts Improved Braves
Click the thumbnails to see photos and videos, and click the AUDIO buttons to hear comments from Eskymos' Katey Lamb and Coach Bev Ziebell. GLADSTONE---The Escanaba High School volleyball team picked up a 3-1 win over the rival Gladstone Braves Thursday night in Gladstone, in a battle between Delta County teams that has been dominated by the Eskymos for the past several years. But Gladstone, which had endured several seasons with very few (or no) victories, has been on the upswing this season under second year coach Kaitlyn Hardwick. The Braves have picked up wins over Manistique, Menominee, and Gwinn this season, the most wins they've had for a while. The Eskymos, though, with a lot of younger players in the line-up, shook off a slow start to win the match. Gladstone jumped to a 10-1 lead in the first set before the Eskymos rallied to win, 25-23. And after the Eskymos won the second set to go up 2-0, the Braves rallied to extend the match into a fourth set. The Braves had a 14-11 lead in that fourth set in an effort to force a fifth set, but the Eskymos scored seven straight points on the serve of Katey Lamb to take control. Escanaba evened its record at 3-3 on the season, and the Eskymos will face the Braves again on Sept. 24, this time in Escanaba. |