Though it became quickly apparent that the Kingsford Flivvers could compete with and even defeat MHSAA Division 2 Regional 9 opponent Ogemaw Heights Tuesday night, it also became clear as the match proceeded that the Flivvers were not functioning offensively as they have throughout most of the 2025 season.

And in the end the offensive difficulties caught up as the Falcons nipped Kingsford 25-27, 25-23, 25-19, 20-25, 15-7 at Newberry High School.

With the victory, Ogemaw Heights (29-6-2) advances to the regional final against Essexville-Garber (42-13-3), while the Flivvers finish with a 22-3 mark.

“Unfortunately, tonight was not our night,” KHS coach Jaclynn Kreider said. “I proud of the way they kept battling and didn’t give up; we just could not get our offense going.”

Correspondingly, the Flivvers played uphill most of the night. Kingsford trailed late in every set in the match except the fourth. In the opener, the Flivvers fell behind 17-10 and trailed 25-24 until rallying behind a kill from Staysha Jarski, an ace by Mckynzee Kreider and a tip by Mya Brunswick.

In the second set, Kingsford fell behind 11-8 and later 22-19 before the Falcons pulled even after a Flivver error.

Ogemaw Heights assumed control of the third midway through and then finished off the set with a late 7-3 run.

The Flivvers stayed in every set mainly because of their defense, keyed by a superlative effort from Alivia Nash, who finished with 44 digs.

“Alivia Nash did an outstanding job defensively for us tonight,” Coach Kreider said. “She gave us a chance to keep the ball alive and attack them.”

Nash was aided in that endeavor by Mckynzee Kreider (17 digs), Lakyn Wallis (12), Karly Trevillian (11), Onika Smeester (11) and Brunswick (8).

One set from elimination, the Flivvers grabbed a 7-3 lead in the fourth sparked by two blocks from Cassie Olson and an ace by Smeester.

Olson finished the night with four solo blocks and three assisted blocks.

Mylee Kreider recorded back-to-back tip kills to keep Kingsford ahead in the middle of the set and Brunswick closed the fourth set win with a kill down the line.

However, the Flivvers’ offensive momentum did not carry over to the fifth. The Falcons scored six of the first eight points – four in a row by junior standout hitter Aubrey Evans – and the Flivvers were knocked back on their heels in the deciding set.

And with their offensive attack scuffling, the Flivvers could not put one last rally together.

Brunswick topped Kingsford hitters with eight kills to go with four from Wallis, Mckynzee Kreider and Olson. Jarski and Mylee Kreider finished with two each.

Overall, the Flivvers wound up with seven more hitting errors than kills on the evening.

“We just could not put the ball away and execute the game plan,” Coach Kreider said. “I think I need to do a better job next season of preparing the team with how to focus on match specific execution so that our confidence level can stay high no matter what the offensive or defensive strategy needs to be on any given night.”

With the loss, the Flivver volleyball careers of senior Adelyn Normand, Cassie Olson and Karly Trevillian came to a close.

“This was a fun season with a great group of young players led by three fantastic seniors,” Coach Kreider said. “We will miss our seniors so much as they were a group that always knew what to say, how to work hard, and found a way to make us all smile and enjoy our time together.”