Eskymos Have Strong Tourney Run In Gladstone

GLADSTONE----To say that it's been an up-and-down season for the Escanaba High School volleyball team would be an understatement.

The girls opened the season with four losses at a tournament in Sault Ste. Marie. But the girls then beat Manistique and Negaunee on consecutive nights...and from two games down both times. Escanaba then lost a five-set match at Stephenson.

Eskymo Coach Bron Harmon was wondering which of her teams would show up on Saturday as The Rock Invitational was held in Gladstone.

And when her team drew the host Braves in the first pool play match-up, Harmon knew that her girls would be up for the challenge.

Escanaba won a tight 26-24 game from its rivals to start the morning, and then cruised to a 25-15 win to take the match, 2-0.

But later in the morning, the girls came out flat and lost to the Gwinn Model Towners, 2-0, by scores of 25-16 and 25-20.


After a break for some lunch, the Eskymos were back on the court and turned in an impressive win over the Hancock Bulldogs, by scores of 25-16 and 25-15.

Then, with a spot in the semifinals on the line, the Eskymos tied the Westwood Patriots, 1-1, winning the second game, 27-25.

"I was very pleased with the effort the team gave today," Harmon said. "We continue to make improvements in our offense. When our serving stays strong, our game comes together."

The Eskymos had a tough chore in the Final Four, facing a tall and talented Houghton Gremlins team. Houghton pulled away for a 25-14 win in the first game, but the Eskymos gave the Gremlins all they wanted in the second game before falling, 27-25.

Notable Eskymo stats overall:
Holly Ettenhofer    13 kills, 37 assists, 12 digs
Ashley Cook          5 aces, 22 digs
Sydney Gafner       9 kills, 7 digs
Aalysiah Spencer   7 kills
Alliyah Edwards     5 aces, 16 kills, 8 digs
Jade Heliin            6 aces, 7 kills, 5 digs

Click the thumbnails in the "ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS" box to see Eskymos vs Model Towners photos and video highlights.

The Rock Invitational At Gladstone

Saturday's Pool Play Results
Marquette 2, Rapid River 0 (25-16, 25-22)
Ishpeming 1, Norway 1 (22-25, 25-10)
Houghton 2, Marquette 0 (25-21, 25-18)
Ishpeming 2, Rapid River 0 (25-11, 25-21)

Escanaba 2, Gladstone 0 (26-24, 25-15)
Gwinn 2, Westwood 0 (25-22, 25-19)
Hancock 2, Gladstone 0 (25-22, 25-21)
Gwinn 2, Escanaba 0 (25-16, 25-20)

Gladstone 1, Gwinn 1 (22-25, 25-18)
Escanaba 2, Hancock 0 (25-16, 25-15)
Westwood 2, Gladstone 0 (25-22, 27-25)
Hancock 2, Gwinn 0 (25-22, 25-21)
Escanaba 1, Westwood 1 (18-25, 27-25)

Houghton 2, Norway 0 (25-17, 25-21)
Houghton 2, Rapid River 0 (25-11, 25-8)
Houghton 2, Ishpeming 0 (25-21, 25-23)
Marquette vs Ishpeming
Marquette vs Norway
Rapid River vs Norway

Saturday's Semifinals and Finals
Semifinal: Houghton 2, Escanaba 0 (25-14, 27-25)
Semifinal: Marquette 2, Gwinn 0 (27-25, 25-22)
Final: Houghton 2, Marquette 1 (24-26, 25-12, 25-21)

'Rock' All-Tournament Team