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Nordics rally for five-set win against Broncos

North Dickinson junior Cami Sleeter (13) elevates for a block against Bark River on Tuesday at North Dickinson High School. (Sean Chase/Daily News photo)

FELCH TOWNSHIP — After honoring its seniors, the North Dickinson varsity volleyball team looked to be on the ropes against Bark River-Harris on Tuesday in Carl F. Lemin Gymnasium, falling behind two sets to nothing.

However, the Nordics found their footing and rallied back for a 3-2 (23-25, 20-25, 25-19, 25-22, 15-12) Skyline Central Conference win over the Broncos.

“I am very proud of how resilient we played,” North Dickinson head coach Taylor Johnson said. “I thought Bark River did very well on its serving. They had good hitting tonight and challenged us for sure.”

The Nordics lineup looked a bit different at the start of the game as their seniors, Hailee Siegler, Jessica Harwath, Maddie Miller, Hope Schuiteman, Kiira Ledzian and Mary Grace Holmes, took the floor together.

“I wanted to give our six seniors a chance to go out on the floor together, one last time,” Johnson said. “So we went with an all-senior lineup.”

While the energy in the building was high, the Broncos took control of the first set via the service line. Despite trailing most of the set, the Nordics found themselves ahead, 22-21 after a thunderous kill from Siegler. However, they couldn’t keep that momentum and Bark River eked out a 25-23 win.

North Dickinson also fell behind early in the second set as Justine Gurney rattled off back-to-back aces to put the Broncos ahead, 7-4.

Bark River-Harris kept its foot on the gas and locked up a 25-20 win in the second.

“I think everyone was a little nervous,” Johnson said. “Once, they kind of shook out of it, I feel like we did a lot better.”

Although the emotional nature of saying goodbye to the seniors hurt the Nordics initially, they used that to rally as the third set began.

“I just reminded them that it was Senior Night,” Johnson said. “And to have a come-from-behind win, in five sets, would make for a really exciting story.”

Aces from Raina Ledzian and Dakota Massie helped North Dickinson jump out to a 6-1 advantage in the third. The Nordics kept up the serving pressure as Kiira Ledzian tallied two aces and Miller added another, putting them ahead 20-15. They never looked back and picked up the third set, 25-19.

With its serve working, North Dickinson began to make its presence felt at the net as Aubrey Applekamp and Cami Sleeter each picked up a key block early in the fourth, pushing the Nordics to a 9-5 lead.

“We see a lot big hitters,” Johnson said. “Aubrey (Applekamp) and Cami (Sleeter), their ability to slow down the hit is so important for us. Because once they slow that down, we can get a good pass, we can get a good set, we can get a good hit.”

Bark River couldn’t stop the onslaught and a kill from Siegler made it a seven-point Nordics’ lead.

“Hailee Siegler played lights out,” Johnson said.

The Broncos managed to cut into the lead, but an ace from Harwath slammed the door and North Dickinson took the frame, 25-22.

Bark River jumped out to a 3-0 advantage in the final set. But, a block from Applekamp put the Nordics on the board as Raina Ledzian began to take over. She tallied two quick points and things were tied at six. Multiple errors by the Broncos saw North Dickinson pull ahead, sending Kiira Ledzian to the service stripe. She kept serve for four points, setting up a game-winning kill from Massie as the Nordics locked up the fifth, 15-12.

Raina Ledzian led the way for North Dickinson with another triple-double. She had 10 kills, 22 assists and 19 digs to go along with a block and four aces.

The Nordics also received contributions from Harwath (2 kills, 7 assists, 27 digs, 2 aces), Applekamp (6 kills, 4 digs, 5 blocks, 2 aces), Massie (6 kills, 1 assist, 15 digs, 3 aces), Miller (2 kills), Schuiteman (1 dig), Nadia Carpenter (1 dig), Kiira Ledzian (1 assist, 25 digs, 4 aces), Sleeter (3 kills, 3 digs, 1 block) and Holmes (7 digs, 4 aces).

The Nordics wrap up their regular season schedule today on the road against Norway. On Monday, they face North Central in the opening round of MHSAA Division 4 District 99 action.

“We haven’t seen Norway since our first dual match of the season, so we’re not quite sure what to expect,” Johnson said. “We’re going to try and go out with a lot of energy though.”

MOUNTAINEERS 3, PATRIOTS 0

ISHPEMING — The Iron Mountain varsity volleyball team closed out its regular season slate on Tuesday, with a 3-0 (25-13, 25-18, 25-13) drubbing of Westwood in Ishpeming.

“We started strong against the Patriots,” Mountaineers head coach Jeanne Newberry said. “Tonight the girls performed with the most energy they have had all season. We had the opportunity to get all the girls into the match.”

Senior Macy Linsenbigler led the Iron Mountain attack with 10 kills.

The Mountaineers also received contributions from Gerilis Sampoll Torres (3 aces, 9 digs), Lucy Baumgartner (2 aces, 2 kills, 1 block, 3 digs), Juliana Tapio (2 aces, 17 assists), Georgia Mundy (1 ace, 1 kill, 1 assist), Cali Picucci (1 ace, 3 digs), Camryn Doers (3 digs), Elena Nelson (1 dig), Bella Person (9 kills, 100% attacking) and Whitney Siren (3 digs).

Iron Mountain returns to play on Wednesday in the second round of District 66 action against the winner of Monday’s contest between Bark River and Gwinn.

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