MANISTIQUE — The Escanaba and Manistique volleyball teams went down to the wire Thursday night with the visiting Eskymos pulling out a 3-2 (22-25, 25-12, 25-14, 17-25, 15-12) victory.

“I think both teams played well tonight,” said Emeralds’ coach Amy Nixon. “We kind of stopped communicating in the second and third sets. Our backs were to the wall and we came out hot in the fourth set and carried that over into the fifth. To play Escanaba and be in such a tight match with them can only help us, especially if we get into a fifth set again.”

Abby Burnham led the Emeralds with four service aces, nine kills and 19 digs. Emilee McDaniel recorded 13 kills and a block. Joslyn Muth distributed 20 assists and Sydny Peterson had 23 digs.

“Abby really stepped up for us tonight,” said Nixon. “She did well.”

Escanaba coach Adam Lambert praised his team and the Manistique team and supporters too.

” Manistique is a really good team. They cover, they hit and they use finesse. Some of the loudest fans we have ever come across were in that gym tonight. Emerald fans are great.”

The Eskymos were led by senior hitter Lexi Challier with 17 kills and 13 blocks.

” Lexi Chaillier pulled out some surprises once again for the opponents,” said Lambert.

“Kaitlyn Lord had an mpressive 12 point serving stretch in the set. As a team we served another 93 percent. We didn’t do everything right, but when they needed to, the girls pulled it out. As a coach, I’m very pleased with tonight.”

Esky (4-1), which also won the jayvee match (25-14, 25-21), hosts Gladstone Tuesday. The Emeralds resume in Saturday’s Charlevoix Invitational.

The summary:

Manistique — Burnham (four aces, nine kills, 19 digs); McDaniel (13 kills, one block); K. Muth (one block)’ J. Muth (20 assists); Peterson (23 digs).

Escanaba — Lexi Chaillier 17, kills, 13 blocks, 4 aces; Lord 12 assists, 15 blocks and 15 digs; Henderson 11 assists; Olson 43 digs, Madison Block 10 digs; Taylor Ray 2 aces.