(Rand Hruska photo) North Dickinson’s Eligh Stout (8) and Micah Lindholm (1) attempt to block the kill of Carney-Nadeau’s Taylor Kedsch (10) Thursday night at the Carl F. Lemin Jr. Gymnasium in Felch. North Dickinson’s Vanessa Lindholm (4), Chrislyn Inglese (6) and Ashton Hord (5), along with Mackenzie Walcher (12) all look on.

FELCH TOWNSHIP — Carney-Nadeau’s girls volleyball team came into the postseason having won four straight district championships. They had a dominant regular season, and Thursday night was much of the same.

The Wolves defeated North Dickinson 3-0 (25-8, 25-8, 25-9) at the Carl F. Lemin Jr. Gymnasium to capture another MHSAA Division 4 district 99 championship.

Carney is the type of team that doesn’t have any weaknesses to expose, which made for quite the challenge for the young Nordics, who had a roster of all sophomores and juniors. The Wolves’ court awareness and communication is a huge key to their game plan each match.

“We pride ourselves on the communication aspect of our game, we really work on it in practice,” said Carney-Nadeau head coach Steve Kedsch. “Our communication gives us an advantage. When we’re talking with one another, we seem to play better.

“Overall tonight, I thought Liana (Blahnik) had a great game in the middle. She was on fire. Taylor (Kedsch) was solid, especially with her passing. Everyone did great with their role tonight, in whatever they needed to do.”

No matter whose turn it was in the Wolves serving rotation, there was a strong server with the ball in their hand. Coach Kedsch noted that the team’s serving was strong throughout the season.

For the Nordics, their season ended with the loss, finishing with a 7-5 record. First-year head coach Taylor Johnson was pleased with the way the girls played Wednesday night at North Central, after not playing at all in three weeks.

“Despite our loss tonight, I am very proud of the girls. We were a very young team, but we persevered through a trying season,” said Johnson. “We came in knowing that tonight was going to be tough. Carney is the best team we played this season. I am also pleased with our hustle tonight. It was the best hustle of the season.”

North Dickinson’s front row played well at the net in the match, with Ashton Hord, Kassandra Cary and Micah Lindholm. The Wolves however, used keen floor awareness and ball placement to combat the strong front row players of the Nordics.

“If we were covering deep, they’d hit short. If he were covering short, they’d hit deep. They’re an outstanding team,” Johnson added. “Our girls did the best they could, and that’s all I ask of them.”

Cary hurt her ankle early in the match, but continued to play on it until the end of the second set.

“It was a big loss for us, but despite her wanting to continue playing, she had to come out and get looked at by the trainer.”

Johnson also emphasized the play of Chrislyn Inglese in the match.

“She had a fantastic game, her hustle was great,” Johnson said.

There was really not a point in the match, when the Wolves did have a firm hold on the pace and outcome of the sets. With a 20-9 lead in the final set, libero Mackenzie Walter served five straight points to end the match.

Carney-Nadeau advances to the regional semifinals Tuesday evening at 6 p.m. Eastern time at Westwood High School in West Ishpeming. They will take on Mid Peninsula, with the winner to take on Chassell in a regional final Thursday at Crystal Falls Forest Park High School.

Chassell received a bye to the finals due to the forfeiture of all four teams in the Bessemer district because of coronavirus restrictions in Gogebic and Ontonagon counties.

CARNEY-NADEAU: Ernest: 3, kills, 34 assists, 5 digs; Blahnik: 16 kills, 2 digs; T. Kedsch: 3 aces, 10 kills, 15 digs; Walcher: 1 ace, 13 digs; Baumler: 2 aces, 9 kills, 1 assist, 3 digs; Kirschner: 3 kills, 1 dig; S. Kedsch: 2 aces, 1 kill, 2 assists, 4 digs.

NORTH DICKINSON: Ashton Hord: 15 digs, 2 kills; Sophie Mattson: 10 digs; Chrislyn Inglese: 10 digs, 3 kills; Micah Lindholm: 8 blocks, 5 kills; Kassandra Cary: 3 blocks, 2 kills.