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Eskymos tune up, top Redettes

Prep volleyball

Mike Mattson | Daily Press Escanaba players celebrate after beating Marquette in the third set 27-25 Tuesday night. The host Eskymos topped the Redettes 3-1.

ESCANABA — The Escanaba and Marquette volleyball teams had the same objective Tuesday night — play solid and build some momentum for next week’s state district tournament.

The Eskymos relied on an aggressive attack and defeated the visiting Redettes 3-1 (25-22, 8-25, 27-25, 20).

“We are focusing on the postseason,” Esky coach Adam Lambert said. “Some people said we don’t have to try hard in this game because it’s already a done deal. That’s not what my team is. My team has to come out and play hard all the time.”

The match did not count in the Great Northern Conference standings. The GNC has already been decided with Sault Ste. Marie and Esky, which won the GNC tournament, sharing the outright title.

Tuesday’s match featured some intense play by both teams as they head into districts. Esky will host Cheboygan Monday at 5:30 p.m., while Marquette will face Petoskey at Alpena Tuesday night.

Mike Mattson | Daily Press Marquette’s Chloe Hale (10) and Escanaba’s Savannah Barron (13) attack the ball at the net in Tuesday night’s match.

“Marquette brought a game tonight,” Lambert said. “I told their coach between one of the sets that it was enjoyable to watch the girls hit. They were really setting well and hitting very well. As a coach you want to just bump, set, kill, but there was a a lot of great volleys back and forth.”

Marquette coach Mike Morgan said his team battled, but Esky’s aggressiveness was the difference.

“Both teams really played hard,” Morgan said. “It was really good volleyball. I liked the long rallies. The kids were laying out on the court to keep the ball in play. You can’t ask for more than that.

“We know (Petoskey) will come out and swing aggressively. They are big, but we can play with them. We just have to be more aggressive. That’s been our downfall all year. Instead of making the aggressive play, we make the safe play.

“Escanaba makes the aggressive plays. We did a great job keeping the ball in play, but if you keep allowing them to make aggressive plays when you are giving them free balls, the outcome usually isn’t good.”

Esky won a competitive first set 25-22, but the Redettes dominated the second set 25-8.

The third set featured some strong play from both teams. Esky led 19-12, but Marquette rallied to tie it at 25-25. Esky prevailed by scoring the last two points.

The Eskymos fed off the emotion of that win and finished off the Redettes in the third set 25-20. Marquette trailed 20-13 and battled to the end.

Esky received a solid night from junior Lexi Chaillier with 10 kills, followed by Savannah Barron with five kills and Kaliea Lawrence with three assists and 15 assists.

“Before the game I said (to Chaillier), ‘I need 10 kills out of you tonight’ and she performed,” Lambert said. “She had a lot of fun.”

Marquette’s Lauren Wilkinson had 12 kills and Aspen Michelin had four aces and Chloe Hale 30 assists.

Esky will turn its attention to Cheboygan next after beating the Chiefs earlier in the season.

“We are going to take that confidence without being arrogant and we will be ready,” Lambert said about the rematch. “They are a good-hitting team as well. Tonight was a good test for that.”

Escanaba also defeated Marquette in the jayvee match 2-1 (25-12, 24-26, 28-26).

The summary:

Marquette — Aspen Michelin (4 aces), Lauren Wilkinson (12 kills, 1 block), Ellie Hicks (1 block), Avery Ledy (1 block), Chloe Hale (30 assists), Mikaila Graham (28 digs).

Escanaba — Lexi Chaillier (10 kills), Jalin Olson (6 digs), Dacota Lambert (4 kills, 2 digs), Kathryn Wilson (2 kills, 3 digs, 1 ace), Payton Gustafson (6 digs), Kaliea Lawrence (3 aces, 15 assists, 1 dig), Gabi Stalboerger (4 kills), Paxton Johnson (1 kill), Savannah Barron (5 kills), Haillie McDonough (2 kills, 1 dig), Kaitlyn Lord (14 assists), Taleise Lawrence (1 kill, 3 digs), Paige Wendt (1 ace, 3 kills, 1 block, 2 digs).

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