West Iron County's Rachael Tefft blocks the ball at the net against Westwood on Tuesday during a Class C regional semifinal at Gladstone. (Avery Bundgaard/The Daily Press)

GLADSTONE — The West Iron County Wykons reaped the benefits of a fast start in a Class C regional volleyball opener Tuesday night as they eliminated the Westwood Patriots 3-0 (25-13, 25-15, 25-23) at Gladstone High School.

Senior Megan Strom got the Wykons started with a 16-point serving run along with Rachel Tefft’s three kills and a block during that run.

“Megan’s serving got us going,” said Tefft, who led the Wykons at the net with 11 kills and seven blocks. “Once we got the lead, it helped me relax. Taking the first set always helps. We also took the first set in both of our district matches and it gave us some momentum.”

The victory sends West Iron to Thursday’s regional final at L’Anse or Gladstone where it will face Calumet, a 3-0 winner over St. Ignace in Tuesday’s nightcap.

“This is the first time Megan started our serving,” said West Iron coach Brenda Grubbs. “She’s usually our sixth server, but tonight we decided to switch up our rotation. Rachel was on today and did a nice job at the net. We wanted to get her into the front row right away. Getting the early jump definitely helped the girls play their game.”

A kill by senior Alina Jones got the Patriots on the board, but a sideout and a pair of kills helped West Iron extend its advantage to 20-2.

A six-point run by senior Sarah Rautio helped Westwood trim its deficit to 20-9. The Patriots, however, were unable to get any closer.

Westwood took a 4-1 lead in the second set, but a kill by senior Breanna Kemppainen trimmed West Iron’s deficit to 4-2.

West Iron took a 5-4 lead on another kill by Kemppainen, but the Patriots tied the score on a kill by senior Elizabeth Farley.

The Wykons regained the lead on a kill by Tefft, then took advantage of two hitting errors for an 8-5 cushion.

Westwood led for the last time in the second set at 10-9. The Wykons then scored the next five points, gaining a 14-10 lead on a two-hit violation by the Patriots.

The Patriots crept within 15-13 on a hitting miscue by the Wykons.

A kill by junior Katie Fredrickson by the Wykons up by three points. West Iron then began to pull away.

In the third set, back-to-back kills by Farley enabled Westwood to tie the score at 23. The Patriots then fell behind on a hitting miscue and a kill to the left side by Tefft secured the decision.

West Iron held a 23-19 lead in the finale before Westwood began its last push.

“The third set was really close,” said Tefft, who had six kills and five blocks in the first. “We weren’t playing our game. I think we may have been a little too relaxed after the first set. Our fans really helped us. We brought a fan bus so we’d have some people in the stands.”

Junior setter Riley Stine provided the Wykons with 53 assists and helped senior Victoria Maloney collect five kills.

West Iron performance summary:

West Iron County — Lutes (two aces, two kills, two assists); Stine (one ace, 53 assists); Strom (one ace, one dig); Anderson (one ace); Grubbs (one ace); Reitmeyer (one ace); Tefft (11 kills, seven blocks); Maloney (five kills, one assist, five digs); Fredrickson (three kills, one block); Kemppainen (two kills, four digs).