Members and supporters of the Niagara girls varsity volleyball team gather together after winning their third consecutive M&O Conference championship on Thursday. The Badgers captured the conference crown after splitting their two matches at a Suring triangular match. (Courtesy photo)

SURING, Wis. — By virtue of its sweep of Wausaukee in their second match of the Suring Triangular on Thursday, the Niagara Lady Badgers captured their third straight M&O Conference varsity volleyball championship.

Niagara dispatched the Rangers 3-0 (25-11, 25-4, 25-14) to extend its run of consecutive conference championships.

“This team has the ability to do great things, but at the end of the day, it’s up to them to get it done,” Niagara coach Carol St. Arnauld said.

In their first match of the event, the Lady Badgers lost to the host Eagles 3-1 (25-22, 13-25, 25-20, 25-20) just Niagara’s second conference defeat of the campaign.

“Too many mental errors, and passing definitely hurt us,” St. Arnauld said of her team’s play in the loss. “We have the talent to beat Suring, but you need to prove it on the court, regardless of calls.”

Kingsford varsity netter Kailey Sundquist (7) goes high for a big hit over Gladstone defenders Lilly Johnson (16) and Kennedy Sanville (11) during Thursday’s match hosted by the Flivvers. (Terry Raiche photo)

Morgan Borchardt stood out again for Niagara with 36 assists, 13 kills, 13 aces, 13 digs and four blocks during the triangular. Mallory Sanicki added punch at the net with a team-high 16 kills and two blocks, while Emma Brouillire produced eight kills and three blocks and Erin Lukowicz contributed seven kills.

Abby Wells logged 15 digs and eight aces and Raegan Frappier led Niagara in digs with 20.

Niagara begins WIAA Division 4 regional play on Tuesday at home against Elcho. The match between the second-seeded Lady Badgers and the seventh-seeded Hornets is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. at Niagara High School.

TROJANS 3, ROCKETS 0

CRYSTAL FALLS — Leah Feldhausen powered down 11 kills, Ema Stepien fired eight and Audrey Franz added five to spark Forest Park to a 3-0 sweep (25-13, 25-8, 25-16) of Rapid River on Thursday in a Skyline Central Conference match at Eddie Chambers Gymnasium.

Freshman Ava Fischer chipped in with four kills, while setter Charlie Larson recorded 22 assists, six aces and three kills, libero Ashlynn Kannich helped out with six digs and two aces, and outside hittter Lauren Kudwa added two kills and an ace for the Lady Trojans.

“The girls worked hard at the net to switch up their offensive tempo,” FP coach Bobbie Anderson said. “They passed well in sets 2 and 3 and that helped our offense to find some open holes in their defense. Great offensive game from Leah Feldhausen and some really aggressive hits from Ema Stepien.”

FLIVVERS 3, BRAVES 0

KINGSFORD — The Kingsford Flivvers received a balanced effort across the lineup and had little trouble with Gladstone in their Great Northern Conference 3-0 victory (25-13, 25-13, 25-13) Thursday at Flivver Gym.

Kailey Sundquist led the Kingsford attack with eight kills to go with six from Elaina Bortolini and Maddie Kreider and five from Laura Bracket.

Kreider added 19 assists, seven digs and six aces, Ellery Nash registered a team-high 14 digs and Sundquist led Kingsford with two blocks.

The Flivvers played without injured starter Jenna Viau but hardly missed a beat. Junior varsity player Anna Bortolini replaced Viau in the rotation and finished with four kills, three digs and two aces.

“With Jenna Viau out tonight we ran a different lineup and the girls handled it well,” Kingsford coach Jaclynn Kreider said. “Anna Bortolini came up from JV and played in her first varsity match and did a fantastic job.”

With the victory, the Flivvers improved to 9-1 in dual matches, but their coach wants to see more improvement as the district tournament beckons.

“We still want to pick up our intensity and communicate as a team better,” Kreider said. “We don’t want to peak yet, so I have been trying to give the girls challenges to focus on. They have a strong desire to win, so I know they accept the challenges.”