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Esky spikes Flivvers

No letup as Eskymos cruise past Kingsford

Avery Bundgaard | Daily Press Escanaba’s Paige Wendt (26) spikes the ball over the net as Kingsford’s Aby Pickett attempts a block during the third set Tuesday at Escanaba.

ESCANABA — The Escanaba volleyball team started and finished big in a strong showing Monday while sweeping Kingsford 3-0 (25-12, 25-13, 25-11).

Esky found a little motivation before the match even started from a simple question from a fan that prompted a big start from the Eskymos.

“Before the game started a gentleman came up to me today and asked which team is going to show up?” said Esky coach Adam Lambert. “I didn’t know what that meant so I told my team that. I just told them to go out there and show them what kind of team we are. We’re only one team and they showed up and brought it.”

The Eskymos surely did come out and show everybody that they are a team to be reckoned with as they started the first set on an 11-0 run. Esky did not let off the gas as it built its lead to 22-4.

The Flivvers did go on a late run that saw them score seven of the next eight points, but it was too little too late as the Eskymos closed out the first set winning 25-12.

Kingsford carried some of that momentum over to the second set as it took an early 8-6 lead.

“They seemed to get fired up,” said Kingsford coach Kelly Bruns. “They started to put together their passing with their hitting and they were playing tougher.”

Esky got back on track with a 10-0 run and cruised from there on its way to a 25-13 second-set win.

The third set began with both teams keeping it close with the Eskymos taking a slight 10-8 lead. Esky then rattled off 15 of the last 18 points to win the third set 25-11.

“Every game starts off close and it’s up to us where we go from there,” said Lambert. “We just hit the gas peddle and just stuck to it. We got in the huddle before the game started and told them this isn’t the time to let up.”

Paige Wendt had a strong showing for the Eskymos with seven kills and four blocks while Savannah Barron added three kills and three blocks.

“Paige on the front line today was blocking like crazy,” said Lambert. “It was a great night for her. Savannah came out and played great so our middles were really excited. Kingsford has a strong middle hitter and they knew they had a big job to do to block her and they did it quite a few times.”

The summary:

Escanaba — Chaillier (7 kills), Olson (2 digs), Wilson (2 digs), Gustafson (4 digs, 1 ace), K. Lawrence (8 assists, 2 digs, 1 kills, 1 ace), Stalboerger (2 kills, 2 blocks), Johnson (6 assists, 1 kill, 1 block), Barron (3 kills, 3 blocks, 1 ace, 1 dig), McDonough (3 kills, 1 dig), Lord (7 assists, 1 dig), T. Lawrence (4 digs, 3 kills, 1 ace), Wendt (7 kills, 4 blocks, 1 dig).

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