MANISTIQUE — The Manistique volleyball team experienced just the thing it needed in its final regular-season match: competition. The Emeralds topped Escanaba here Thursday 3-1 (25-19, 13-25, 25-19, 25-20).

“I think it was a really intense game for us tonight,” Emeralds coach Amy Nixon said. “Escanaba brought good competition for us. We finally got to get tested and hit at. It was a fun match to play in.”

The nearly undefeated Emeralds (12-1) dropped the second set, but it didn’t shake the mentality of the team.

“I think Escanaba served pretty well, and that kind of got us in a position where we couldn’t be as offensive as we wanted to be,” Nixon said. “(The team is) really mentally tough. After that second set, we had a fresh start going into the third. They realized it wasn’t like them, and once they relaxed and started playing loose, they played well.”

After the second set win, the Eskymos couldn’t come any closer than 19 or 20 points in a set.

“I just think the girls gave a great effort,” Nixon said. “They outworked and out hustled Escanaba.

“It’s a good momentum builder going into the districts to beat a team like them.”

Manistique’s Kayla Muth led the team in aces with three as well as earning six kills.

Ella Shooter topped the kills and blocks columns with 12 and six, respectively, and Madisyn Zellar excelled at digs with 19.

Emma Jones finished with 20 assists.

Manistique hosts Norway Monday for the first round of district play.