Kingsford, coached by Jaclynn Kreider, swept 12 sets on Saturday to win the 14-team Kingsford Invitational volleyball meet. (Courtesy photo)

KINGSFORD — Any volleyball team considering overlooking the Kingsford Flivvers this year because of the graduation loss of their top six players from the powerhouse of the previous three seasons may want to think again.

The Flivvers, with five new starters and a completely different back row, didn’t miss a beat Saturday by sweeping 12 sets to win their 14-team invitational.

Kingsford defeated Hancock 29-27, 25-20 in the championship match after sweeping Negaunee in the semifinal round.

“I’m so proud of this team,” Kingsford coach Jaclynn Kreider said. “I feel like a lot of people this year, with us losing that group of seniors last year, were probably thinking that we were going to struggle a bit.

“My thing is we’re definitely inexperienced when it comes to varsity competition. But this team practices hard, we’re athletic and so I thought, especially because we were progressing this week, that we were going to surprise some people today.”

Kingsford defeated Bark River-Harris, Sault Ste. Marie and North Dickinson in pool play before moving into the quarterfinal, where they defeated a much-improved Norway team that went 3-3 in pool play on the day.

The Knights swept West Iron County 25-19, 25-21, split with Escanaba 25-16, 21-25 and dropped a 25-18, 25-23 decision to Hancock.

In other area teams’ results, Iron Mountain and West Iron both finished 2-4 in pool play and did not advance. The Mountaineers defeated Stephenson 25-13, 25-14, lost to Gladstone 25-20, 25-23 and fell to Houghton 25-14, 25-10. The Wykons swept Menominee 25-17, 25-23 and lost to Negaunee 25-19, 25-15 as well as to Norway.

North Dickinson finished with a 1-5 mark in pool play. The Nordics split with Bark River-Harris 20-25, 25-16 and dropped two sets to both the Flivvers and Sault Ste. Marie.

Both the Nordics and the Wykons played without key starters — senior setter Raina Ledzian for ND and sophomore hitter Bristol Shamion for WIC. Both are currently out with ankle sprains.

In other bracket play matches leading to the finals, Escanaba defeated Houghton 2-1, Negaunee upended Sault Ste. Marie 2-1 and Hancock topped Escanaba 2-0.

For the Flivvers, senior middle Cassie Olson and junior hitter Mylee Kreider saw the most action last year and both played well on Saturday. Both Kreider and junior outside Mya Brunswick will be six-rotation players this season, Coach Kreider said, and the duo displayed impressive all-around skill in the invitational.

“Both of them are playing back row for the first time, so there is a lot on them in that sense,” coach Kreider said. “Mylee was stable today with no highs and lows and Mya’s just a great athlete. She’s very focused and determined. She’s the type of kid who you can rely on to stay pretty steady. She shakes off mistakes really easily.

“And (senior setter) Karly (Trevillian), too. They’re able to read really well and make good plays because their mind is there.”

Along with Brunswick and Kreider, junior Onika Smeester and sophomore Alivia Nash saw ample action in the back row during the competition.

Joining Olson in the middle was freshman Staysha Jarski, a jumping jack with infectious energy and boundless potential.

“She’s always smiling with positive energy, and you can’t help but just love her,” coach Kreider said. “She brings a lot to the team and not just on the court.”

Additionally, sophomore Lakyn Wallis, despite her petite size, showed some pop on the outside.

Which leaves freshman setter Mckynzee Kreider, who looks and plays eerily similar to her older sister Maddy, who is now playing at Michigan Tech.

“I was just really proud of her today,” said the mother and coach of a third daughter to play KHS varsity volleyball. “She is a confident kid in what she’s doing on the court, and I think everybody (on the team) knows that. And so no one hesitates to get her the ball in any situation.”