Justin St. Ours | Daily Press Gladstone’s Meagan Stier (left) blocks a shot from Iron Mountain’s Bella Rosenthal (right behind) alongside teammate Keeley Angsten (20) Thursday in Gladstone.

GLADSTONE — Iron Mountain proved a tough match-up for Gladstone here Thursday night as it handed the Braves a 3-0 (25-12, 25-10, 25-13) volleyball loss.

The Mountaineers hit 16 service aces, including eight by junior Ellison Powell in this Mid-Peninsula Conference match.

Gladstone took its only lead (2-1) on an ace by senior Jadyn Bovin in the first set during the Volley for a Cure event.

Following a time-out, a kill by senior Bella Rosenthal sent the Mountaineers ahead to stay.

The Braves were within 8-5 following an ace by senior Kenzingtin Pepin.

Iron Mountain pulled away through the remainder of the set, which ended on four consecutive aces by Powell.

“Serving is huge for us,” said Mountaineers’ assistant coach Emma Thomann. “It’s definitely one of our strong suits, and we work on it every day. We struggled with our energy early, then we picked it up and started playing our game.”

An ace by Powell gave the Mountaineers a 4-0 lead in the second.

The Braves again were within 8-5 following a net violation by the Mountaineers.

Iron Mountain, as it did in the opener, pulled away and secured that set on a kill by junior Chloe Maycroft, which took place shortly after a seven-point run by Runsat.

Powell started the finale with a six-point run, halted on a kill by Pepin.

Iron Mountain’s advantage grew to 15-3 on back-to-back aces by Rosenthal and led by as much as 24-8 on a Braves’ passing miscue.

Bovin followed with a five-point service run, trimming Gladstone’s deficit to 24-13, before a kill by Powell ended the match.

“I’m proud of the girls for not giving up,” said Braves coach Averi Kanyuh. “Jadyn had a nice service run in the end. I think the girls just lacked communication and passing. We need to control our own mistakes and work on communication.”

Runsat and Rosenthal added four aces apiece. Runsat collected seven kills and a block. Powell also had seven kills. Rosenthal added six kills, and junior Emma Ellis had 13 assists.

Powell finished 18-of-19 serving. Runsat was 13-of-14, and Ellis ended 12-of-13.

Iron Mountain also won the jayvee match (27-25, 25-23 and the freshmen prevailed (25-8, 20-25, 16-14).

The Braves resume in Saturday’s Escanaba Elks Invitational.

Iron Mountain — Powell (eight aces, seven kills, six digs); Runsat (four aces, seven kills, one block, three digs); Rosenthal (four aces, six kills, one dig); Maycroft (four kills, two blocks); Ellis (two kills, 13 assists, one dig); Winch (nine assists); Swartout (four digs).