(Matt McCarthy/Daily News photo) Kingsford’s Madelynn Kreider (12) leaps to try to block the hit of Sault St. Marie’s Avery Benoit (9) in the second set of a MHSAA Division 2 volleyball district game versus Sault Ste. Marie on Monday at the Kingsford Middle School Gymnasium. Kingsford’s Zoie Geronimi (22), Emma Andrews (9), Grace Roberts (11) as well as Sault Ste. Marie libero Jayla Jorgenson (16) and Faith White (13) look on.

KINGSFORD — It took four sets of highly competitive volleyball to determine a winner in an opening MHSAA Division 2 District match between host Kingsford and the visiting Sault Ste. Marie Blue Devils. A fundamentally sound Sault High team defeated Kingsford 3-1 (25-19, 25-14, 19-25, 25-18) here Monday evening.

Each and every set featured scoring runs from both teams, as all four sets had momentum swings back and forth.

“It’s obvious that they’re very well coached. They’re fundamentally sound,” said Kingsford head coach Jaclynn Kreider. “We made too many uncharacteristic errors tonight, especially against a team like the Sault who has strong hitters and very tall players.”

The opening set saw the Blue Devils jump out to a 4-0 lead, with the Flivvers responding to tie the match at 4-4 and eventually taking the lead at 13-9.

The front row play of Sault High was strong throughout the match, especially the combinations of All-U.P. basketball player Claire Erickson, along with Faith White, Hannah Burd and Laura Innerebner.

Kingsford senior Abby Terrian (10) prepares to serve the ball in the opening set of an MHSAA Division 2 volleyball district game versus Sault Ste. Marie on Monday evening at the Kingsford Middle School Gymnasium.

“We have an offense that’s totally based off of our defense,” said Blue Devils head coach Vince Gross. “Our ability to serve receive very well goes along with that. Plus we have really strong hitters on our team, that can really put the ball away.”

As Kingsford’s inconsistency built in the opening set, Sault took command of the latter stages of and notched the win on a kill by Kenzie Bell.

Set two was the least competitive of the four, with the Blue Devils’ continued front row presence and very strong hitting.

Kingsford head coach Jaclynn Kreider called a handful of time outs throughout the match to re-group her team. As the second set — and the match– wore on, the floor awareness of Sault High and communication of both teams got better and better.

SSM won the set by an 11-point margin, but the Flivvers with the strong serving of freshman Madelynn Kreider jumped out to an early 4-0 lead in the third set. The Blue Devils quickly tied the score at 4-4 with powerful serves from senior Avery Benoit.

Kingsford took command after a Blue Devils’ miscue, followed by a trio of Danika Varda serves that had the Sault reeling. The Flivvers jumped out to a 12-5 lead before the Blue Devils once again swung the momentum and got within two points at 13-11.

It was the Flivvers who went on the win set three by a half-dozen points, much to the delight of the loud crowd and excited Kingsford student section. The final set began much like the previous one, with the Flivvers taking an early lead, 5-2. However, the Blue Devils fought back and went on a 8-0 scoring run to take the lead.

SSM libero Jayla Jorgenson kept the Flivvers at bay with very effective serves, as well as continued strong front row play and front row hitting from Erickson and White. Upon taking the lead, Sault never relinquished it, despite a very long and exciting rally that gave the Flivvers their 17th point.

“We’re really peaking right now, and have been playing our best volleyball as of late,” Gross added.

The Blue Devils (37-5-5), who won the Straits Area Conference and conference tournament, both undefeated, took the final set by seven points. They will travel to Negaunee on Wednesday for District 33 semifinal action at 6 p.m. Eastern time at the Lakeview Memorial Gymnasium, with the winner to host the district championship on Thursday night.

“Our serving has struggled as of late, and it seems to be contagious and play a mental game with all the girls,” Kreider said. “But I like how the girls responded after losing the first two sets, to come back and win the third and play competitively in the last set also,” said Kreider.

With the loss, the Flivvers season ends and so do the volleyball careers of seven seniors: Talia Wallis, Allie LaVarnway, Emma Andrews, Abby Terrian, Grace Roberts, Danika Varda and Zoie Geronimi.

“The season had a lot of great things happen for our program,” Kreider said. “We won three of the four tournaments we played in. Though we peaked earlier in the season, overall it was a good season and I am proud of the seniors and I am going to miss them.”

Also on Monday in Calumet, it was the Copper Kings defeating West Iron 3-0 in a Division 3 district match.

Kingsford Stats

Talia Wallis: 1 ace, 1 assist, 5 kills

Elaina Bortolini: 2 kills

Abby Terrian: 8 kills, 2 blocks

Allie LaVarnway: 1 ace, 5 assists,

Grace Roberts: 1 ace, 1 assist, 2 kills

Madelynn Kreider: 1 ace, 14 assists, 3 kills

Danika Varda: 3 assists, 2 kills

Sault High Stats

Jayla Jorgenson: 2 aces, 21 digs, 1 assists

Hannah Burd: 4 kills, 8 digs, 25 assists, 2 blocks

Kenzie Bell: 8 kills, 13 digs

Avery Benoit: 2 aces, 5 kills, 13 digs

Laura Innerebner: 2 blocks

Claire Erickson: 10 kills, 8 digs, 3 blocks

Faith White: 2 aces, 6 digs