(Matt McCarthy/Daily News photo) The Kingsford Flivvers volleyball team poses with the team trophy after winning the 2021 Great 8 Fall Classic Volleyball Tournament on Saturday at the Eddie Chambers Memorial Gymnasium at Forest Park High School in Crystal Falls. Kneeling, from left, are Madelynn Kreider, Lexi DalSanto, Emma Andrews (holding the trophy), Talia Wallis and Kaitlyn Schmutzler. Standing are Assistant coach Jamie Momont, Mackenzie Primeau, Zoie Geronimi, Abby Terrian, Laura Bracket, Danika Varda, Grace Roberts, Allie LaVarnway, Elaina Bortolini and head coach Jaclynn Kreider.

CRYSTAL FALLS — Six area volleyball teams competed in the 2021 Great 8 Fall Classic volleyball tournament, with Kingsford defeating Niagara, 21-17, in a one-set, winner-take-all tiebreaker Saturday at the Eddie Chambers Memorial Gymnasium in Crystal Falls.

Both the Flivvers and the Lady Badgers finished a 6-2 on the day, and had split the two sets they played against one another, which required the one-set tiebreaker. The annual event was short two teams this year, Florence as well as Norway opted not to compete in the 2021 Great 8 tournament.

“Today was a good test for us, because we saw some really good servers,” said Kingsford head coach Jaclynn Kreider. “We struggled early on in the day with serve receive, but we got better as the day went along, which helped us win the tournament.”

In the tiebreaker championship set, Kingsford got out to a 3-0 lead off the serving of freshman Madelynn Kreider. After breaking the Flivvers momentum to earn a point, Niagara libero Isabel Jacobs quickly tied the score at 3-3.

The set continued to see saw until the Flivvers got ahead 14-10, which was the closest the Lady Badgers the remainder of the set.

Players of note for both teams in the match were the overall play of Niagara junior Morgan Borchardt, with teammates Mallory Sanicki, a freshman, and Abigail Wells both with strong net play. Kingsford’s Abby Terrian served well in the tie breaker set.

Iron Mountain, West Iron, North Dickinson and the host Forest Park Lady Trojans also took part in the event, with matches also taking place in the Forest Park Elementary gym.

Earlier in the tournament in the elementary gym Iron Mountain, which performed well throughout the day, split their two sets versus Niagara. The one loss to the Mountaineers forced Niagara to play the tiebreaker set with Kingsford.

“We knew we needed to beat Iron Mountain twice and we didn’t get the job done. And that’s on us,” said veteran Niagara head coach Carol St. Arnauld. “Iron Mountain was aggressive and more aggressive than us at times in that match.”

“For myself and the girls to be routing for Iron Mountain, so we had a chance at the championship, was unique being we’re cross-town rivals with Iron Mountain,” coach Kreider said. “But it was part of the fun of today, playing against everyone from our area, that was here. These kids all mostly know one another.”

Both coach Kreider and St. Arnauld have respect for the other’s programs that they knew a one-set showdown against one another would be a tough test.

“Kingsford is a senior heavy team with lots of volleyball experience,” St. Arnauld added. “I knew that it would be a battle, like our match with them earlier in the day was.”

Niagara, which played in a tournament in Crivitz on Tuesday and in a conference triangular meet on Thursday, stepped up their level of play as each event progressed St. Arnauld stated.

“I am really proud of the girls for their play this week. It’s nice to see improvement all week, and I am pleased to make it as far as we did today,” St. Arnauld also added.

Both the Badgers and Flivvers return to action on Tuesday, as Niagara travels to Marinette-Oconto Conference foe Wausaukee, while Kingsford will travel to Felch Township to take on non-conference foe North Dickinson County at the Carl F. Lemin Jr. Gymnasium.

The Nordics will first travel to Norway tonight for a varsity-only Skyline Central Conference matchup, beginning at 5:30 p.m. The Lady Trojans return to action on Thursday as they host Norway at 5 p.m. in a SCC tilt.

The Wykons return to action on Wednesday as they will entertain West PAC Conference powerhouse Calumet, at the Charles Greenlund Memorial Gymnasium in Stambaugh. Iron Mountain returns home to host West PAC and Mid-Peninsula Conference opponent Negaunee on Tuesday night.