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Gladstone-Esky, Another VB thriller

Mark Johnson | Daily Press Escanaba celebrates after the final point of the match earning the Eskymos a comeback 3-2 volleyball home court win over Gladstone Tuesday night.

ESCANABA — The Gladstone-Escanaba volleyball rivalry continues to excel with an encore performance by the Eskymos to beat the Braves Tuesday night.

In another five-set thriller, Escanaba edged the Braves, coming back from two sets down to win 14-25, 20-25, 25-20, 25-19, 16-14.

Esky beat Gladstone in a similar five-setter last month.

The two teams ramped it up a few notches in the rematch before a spirited crowd.

Escanaba senior hitter Lexi Challier led the comeback with a match-high 28 kills and numerous blocks and deflections at the net defending Gladstone’s taller front line.

“Lexi had 28 kills, she loves the sport and has the heart and passion for volleyball,” said Escanaba coach Adam Lambert about his multi-sport star.

“The girls brought it after the first two sets. I told them it is our turn to be Kingsford (the Flivvers beat Esky in five sets two weeks ago after dropping the first two). “Our endurance and playing all these five setters is paying off.”

Escanaba (5-1) dug itself a deep hole, losing the opening two sets.

The first set was dominated by Gladstone winning scoring 12 of the last 13 points in the set.

The Braves’ Taleise Lawrence had a long serving run and three kills by Megan Crow highlighted the early play.

“It was a great match,” said Gladstone coach Bill Lawrence, his team now 3-2.

“Any time you go to 16-14 in the fifth set, you can’t ask for much more and both teams were playing well. I’m very proud of our girls. Lexi (Challier) is a great player for Escanaba and they did the same to us (winning in five sets) when they came to our house.”

The Braves won set two 25-20, and the two teams were tied at 12-12 in the third, before the Eskymo comeback turned the match.

Led by Challier’s kills and a strong serving stretch with two aces from Jalin Olson, Esky was right back in the match down 2-1.

“I tried to slow down Jalin Olson’s serving with a couple of timeouts,” said GHS coach Lambert. “It didn’t work and they (Escanaba) started to play better in the final three sets.”

Set four was a 25-19 Esky win setting the stage for the win-by-two-points, first to 15 points, final set.

The fifth set scoring went to overtime (same as the earlier OT five-setter in Gladstone) and Esky prevailed again, winning the final two points to sweep the season series with the Braves.

“Playing them (Gladstone) is tough for our girls,” said Esky coach Lambert.

“They all know each other and are friends. And we started out tonight not playing that well. The rivalry is a good one and both teams are competitive and it showed all night.”

Escanaba next hosts Marquette Thursday at 7 p.m. while Gladstone visits Marquette Monday.

The summary:

Escanaba – Olson (3 aces, 33 digs); Challier (28 kills, 4 blocks, 3 aces); Tess Henderson (12 assists, 2 aces); Taylor Ray (2 assists, 4 digs); Kaitlyn Lord (22 assists, 4 aces); Gabriella Stalboerger (3 blocks).

Gladstone – not available.

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