Flivvers top Miners in district semifinal clash
Kingsford’s Jenna Viau (4), far left, goes airborne before hitting a potential kill shot over and by Negaunee defenders during Wednesday night’s MHSAA Division 2 District 33 girls varsity volleyball semifinal at Kingsford High School. The victory set up a clash with Houghton for the district championship Thursday night, which the Flivvers won 3-2. (Terry Raiche photo)
Flivver varsity netters Hayden Johnson (16), April Clark (5), Kailey Sundquist (7), Alyssa Larson (2) and other members of the Kingsford volleyball team are all smiles while celebrating a 3-1 district semifinal victory over Negaunee in front of their home fans Wednesday night. (Terry Raiche photo)
Kingsford’s Jenna Viau (4), far left, goes airborne before hitting a potential kill shot over and by Negaunee defenders during Wednesday night’s MHSAA Division 2 District 33 girls varsity volleyball semifinal at Kingsford High School. The victory set up a clash with Houghton for the district championship Thursday night, which the Flivvers won 3-2. (Terry Raiche photo)
Flivver varsity netters Hayden Johnson (16), April Clark (5), Kailey Sundquist (7), Alyssa Larson (2) and other members of the Kingsford volleyball team are all smiles while celebrating a 3-1 district semifinal victory over Negaunee in front of their home fans Wednesday night. (Terry Raiche photo)
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KINGSFORD -- The Kingsford Flivvers exploded out of the gate against Negaunee in Wednesday night's MHSAA Division 2 District 33 semifinal at Kingsford High School.
Then after a bit of a drop in their play, the Flivvers finished off the Miners 25-7,18-25, 25-15, 25-20 to set up a district final matchup with Houghton.
In Wednesday's semifinal win, Kailey Sundquist and Maddy Kreider combined for 26 kills, while Alyssa Larson and Kreider teamed up for 35 assists in the victory.
"Our first set tonight was the best I have seen us play all year," Kingsford coach Jaclynn Kreider said. "Our passing was right on and our setter-hitter connections were incredible."
As can happen in prep volleyball, a team that starts quickly can lose its edge and that's what happened to the Flivvers in the second set as the Miners evened the match.
"We did not come out as the same team in set 2 and allowed Negaunee to gain momentum," Coach Kreider said. "Unfortunately, we are still a young team mentally and so we get in our heads when teams are up on us. We start second-guessing ourselves and stop attacking with confidence."
Kingsford rebounded quickly and took control of the match from there to clinch a place in the final against the Gremlins, who came roaring back to defeat Escanaba 21-25, 18-25, 26-24, 25-16, 15-10 in the other semifinal Wednesday in Escanaba.
Defensively, Ellery Nash led the Kingsford back row with 33 digs, while Kreider added 13, Jenna Viau contributed 11 and Bryonna Sanders chipped in with 10.
Laura Bracket led the Flivvers with two blocks and Maddy Kreider topped Kingsford's servers with five aces.
"Negaunee battled hard and did a great job defensively tonight," Coach Kreider said after the match. "They did not make it easy on us. It was a fun night."
Kreider's team played a rematch with Houghton in the final, winning 3-2. In the last match of the regular season on Oct. 27 at Flivver Gym, Kingsford defeated the Gremlins in four sets.