KINGSFORD – Kingsford clinched the Great Northern Conference volleyball championship Tuesday.

The unbeaten Flivvers (8-0), repeating as league champions, moved to early leads in dispatching second-place Escanaba 3-0 (25-19, 25-12, 25-23).

“That’s awesome,” said Flivvers coach Jaclynn Kreider. “I knew this team was capable.”

Kingsford rolled to a 20-10 advantage in the first set. The margin was 20-12 in the second. The Flivvers, with standout middle Hannah Carlson missing the early part of the third set with eye irritation, held a 6-3 edge before the Eskymos fought back.

“I think the nerves got to us,” said Eskymos coach Theresa Heidt. “We dropped the ball tonight. This team that came and played, is not how we play. We’ve had a great season overall.”

Kingsford fired 12 ace serves at Escanaba. Sierra Fortner led the way with six.

“We really wanted to focus on serving more aggressively,” Kreider said. “That actually was effective for us. We wanted to get some of those points early and get a run, and also not let them set up their offense to get to their middle.”

Kingsford was concerned with 6-foot-3 Jennifer Brandt, who collected 10 kills on the night.

“With Jenny Brandt’s height in the middle we didn’t want to allow them set up.” Kreider said. “That was one of our big strategies that worked well tonight.”

Carlson collected one of her nine kills Tuesday from the second row to finish the first set.

Kingsford had six straight points to complete the second set. Carlson and Sydney Wickman teamed up for a double block to expand the difference to 22-12. Jordyn Kriegl notched back-to-back aces for 24-12. A Gabby Nordstrom smash ended the second set.

Escanaba knotted the third set at 22-22 after two aces from Paige Wendt and a Jennifer Brandt kill. Kingsford got the next two points from kills by Nordstrom and Carlson.

A tip kill from Savannah Barron closed the margin to 24-23. But a Carlson kill ended the match in favor of the GNC champs.

“Kingsford has always had a great program,” Heidt said. “They had some big hitters. They used their offense wisely which we did not do.”

The Eskymos coach was also impressed with the Flivvers ability “to pick up every ball. They’re a very scrappy team.”

Replacing graduated setter Nikki Roberge was vital to the Flivvers this season. Sabrina Wickman had 20 assists on Tuesday.

“We had a lot to overcome trying to fill Nikki’s position,” Kreider said. “Losing that critical spot would be a tough role for us. We continue to learn and we continue to grow in that area. I’ve got a lot of great, coachable kids that worked hard in the summer. They’ve come together more dynamic chemistry-wise this year than I would have imagined. But I knew they were capable.”

Kingsford completes GNC play with matches against Marquette (Thursday) and Gladstone (Oct. 27). Escanaba (5-3) travels to Marquette on Tuesday.

Performance summaries:

Kingsford

Sierra Fortner – 6 ace serves, 12 digs

Sabrina Wickman – 1 kill, 20 assists, 1 ace, 9 digs

Jordyn Kriegl – 1 ace, 4 digs

Sydney Wickman – 5 kills, 2 aces, 16 digs

Sam Maycunich – 1 kill , 2 digs

Kendra Nora – 1 kill

Hannah Carlson – 9 kills , 13 digs, 2 blocks

Gabby Nordstrom – 4 kills, 2 aces, 5 digs

Bri Robinson – 6 kills, 1 dig, 1 solo block

Escanaba

Lindsey Taylor – 3 kills, 5 digs, 1 ace

Savannah Barron – 3 kills, 12 digs, 1 ace

Morgan Heidt – 6 assists, 4 kills, 4 digs

Jen Brandt – 10 kills, 1 ace, 21 dig