Todd Rose | Daily Press Escanaba’s Bailey Barron (1) prepares to strike and return the ball against Gladstone Tuesday in Gladstone.

GLADSTONE — The Escanaba Eskymos girls’ volleyball team earned a 3-0 (25-18, 25-12, 25-9) over the Gladstone Braves Tuesday night in Gladstone.

The rivalry game was uncharacteristically tame in terms of energy from both the stands and on the floor.

“I wish it felt more rivalry-like,” said Escanaba coach Adam Lambert after the win. “The intensity was pretty low. I think the expectations weren’t very high for it to be a competitive game. … After the first set, I said, ‘Ladies, it was like I was in the library for that game.’ It was so quiet. There wasn’t a lot of communication and hardly any excitement.

“And I don’t mean any disrespect for Gladstone. They’re building their program and doing their thing.”

While the Eskymos won the second and third sets quite handily, the opening set featured close competition in the opening moments as the Braves took a 7-3 lead.

The Braves strung together a quick run to open the game 4-0, with Alyssa Sanville serving. The run also included a nice spike from Kenzingtin Pepin.

Gladstone stayed within distance of the Eskymos, tying things up at 13 before Escanaba took control and outscoring the Braves 12-5 to take the set win.

Katelyn Stalboerger led the Eskymos in kills. Coming off her 24 kill performance in five sets at Manistique, she had 15 against the Braves. Mari Bink had nine, while Bailey Barron had six in her return to the court.

“Bailey is always a stud,” said Lambert. “She does her job, and I poke fun at her because she does it with her own intensity. Sometimes she doesn’t display it on her face or in her emotions, but I know that she is all game. … Bailey’s just always a rockstar. We always count on her. Last week she was out, but she came back healthy, and she’s good. I didn’t see a lot of things out of her that I’d like to correct.”

Barron also had an ace, a category that was led Abby Rexford and Stalboerger with two.

Lambert also noted the performance of Mara Liss, as well as the whole team, for continually improving and building for the future.

Braves coach Averi Kanyuh said the Braves’ performance was better this time than the last — another 3-0 loss — against the Eskymos.

“I think, compared to the last time we played them, we definitely have improved with serve-receive and our passing,” Kanyuh said.

After the close opening set, the Braves suffered from the same lack of excitement that plagued the Eskymos early on, said Kanyuh.

“I think our energy just kind of died down,” she said. “And we went back to how we usually pass for our serve-receive.”

Kanyuh mentioned Jadyn Bovin, the team’s libero, as having a solid night on the court.

“Jadyn, my libero, stepped up,” she said. “She was all over the court tonight, and she had really good serves.”

One of the major things Kanyuh had the Braves focus on during their break between games was communication.

“We did focus on (communication),” she said. “I asked my setters to make sure they step up and help direct the offense more, and I did see that tonight.”

For the Braves, the Kingsford Flivvers are the next team on their list. That game will be played Thursday in Kingsford.

The Escanaba Eskymos are also on the road Thursday as they head up to Marquette to face the Redmen.