RAPID RIVER — The Rapid River Rockets and North Central Jets went the distance Thursday night in Rapid River as the Rockets took the win 3-2 (22-25, 25-22, 24-26, 25-23, 17-15).

As it was the final home volleyball match for the Rockets, it was senior night in the Rapid gym as the team’s younger members thanked their senior leaders — Addie Christoff, Gabby Moss, Gracie Stemick and Madi LaChance — with gifts and speeches prior to the start of the first set.

“(It feels) good to get the win. I just wish it wasn’t as sloppy of play. We would get a couple points ahead, and then I think we would get too excited and lose our grip and just fall short. It’s the nerves. Hard to contain the energy. I think our senior girls just wanted to extend the life of our last game,” Rockets coach Kristy Kerstner joked.

The Jets went up 5-2 to open the fifth set and gain the early advantage with a quick three-point service run led by Katelyn Deming.

Rapid River capitalized on an errant Deming serve to go on a four-point run helmed by Madi LaChance, who came off the bench into a high-pressure situation. LaChance had two aces in the run.

Things stayed nip and tuck up to the 14-12 mark — with another short scoring spree helmed by Deming including another ace — with the Jets holding the lead.

Again, LaChance stepped to the service line for the Rockets after North Central was unable to return the ball leading to a Rockets score to tie the game at 14. LaChance put another ball down for an ace to give her team the edge, but the Jets had an immediate answer in the form of Shea LaCoursier.

LaCoursier got her hands up during the next exchange between the teams to put up a block that sent the ball back to the floor with authority.

North Central was unable to carry the momentum from the play, however, as the Rockets sealed the win following a short serve and a Jets’ return sent out of bounds.

“Madi LaChance did really well for us under pressure in game five,” Kerstner said. “She had (five) serves in there. That’s a lot of pressure, especially to come off the bench.”

Kerstner also added how nice it is to have seniors on the team who can act as leaders for the underclassmen.

“It means a lot,” she said. “Especially Addie and Gabbie are four-year seniors. So, they’ve helped the last four years through. Not only are the seniors respected on the team, they are leaders on and off the court.”

For the Jets, coach Rick Mick — while being pleased with the team’s performance overall was also happy with the players who came in off the bench and stepped up.

“The kids that had to step in and play (did great),” Mick said. “Kartina Borucki had to step in at one point for a whole set, and Mady Bemis, we needed her for a little while. It’s hard to come off the bench cold and play well, and they both did.”

For the most part, added Mick, the team played well through the mistakes they made came at crucial moments.

“In all honesty, most of the stuff we did, we did well,” he said. “We missed some very timely serves, and I think that that made a difference. If you take a couple of those serves back and put a couple of them in the court, and it’s a different outcome. I think that was our biggest downfall.”

Heading into the postseason, Mick is pleased with where the Jets have positioned themselves at the end of the regular season.

“I’m happy with where our team is at, and I’m excited for Monday,” he said. “I think, regardless of the outcome, we’ll give Forest Park more than they’re expecting.”

Rapid River visits Big Bay de Noc for its playoff opener Monday, and North Central visits Forest Park.