Big Bay tops Rapid, faces Cougars today
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GARDEN CORNERS -- After dropping the opening set, the Big Bay de Noc Black Bears rallied for three straight-set wins to defeat the Rapid River Rockets 3-1 (11-25, 25-23, 25-16, 25-14) Monday night during an MHSAA Division 4 District 100 opener at the Big Bay de Noc School in Garden Corners.
Coming off a runner-up finish at the Northern Lights League Tournament last week, Black Bear coach Angie Paulson felt the team had some nervousness to break through when hitting the court.
"It feels great, first of all," said Paulson. "Coming into that first set, I think they kind of needed to shake off the nerves. We were coming off Friday where we hosted the Northern Lights League Tournament here. We took second there."
Once the first set came and passed, Paulson said Big Bay focused on establishing a rhythm.
"After that first set, we really just focused on 'create your momentum and don't give it up' because that's been something we've struggled with," she said. "Once we got that second set, it kind of boosted their confidence. They really boosted their communication."
Despite the Black Bears going up 5-2 in the opening moments of set one, the Rockets took control with Aiyana Semear at the service line.
Semear led the Rockets on a 12-point run that put them well in the lead 22-8. The run included four aces from Semear.
Set two featured a close contest throughout, with neither team holding more than a four-point advantage throughout.
Once the Black Bears got rolling, however, they were able to control the last two sets to take the wins in each.
In set three, Alix Bleau had a brief service run that included an ace to put Big Bay in the lead 4-1.
After a serve from Bleau fell short, giving a point to the Rockets, Piper Jones stepped to the service line to lead the Black Bears on a seven-point run to make things 12-2. She had a pair of aces, too.
Other short runs led by Ellie Nedeau and Kaitlyn Massengill helped the Black Bears keep the lead and take the set win.
The fourth set followed a similar pattern, with the Black Bears keeping momentum on their side with multiple runs ushering them to 25 points.
While Paulson stuck with a core group of players -- including Jones, Bleau, Massengill Nedeau and Camryn Pederson -- throughout the set, she said it was a team effort from all members of the Black Bears' squad.
"You always feel bad when you have girls that don't go in the game and whatnot," she said, "But I said (to them), they're as much a part of the team as the girls on the court. The girls on the court were just vibing together."
Rapid River coach Kristy Kerstner echoed Paulson's comments about the mental aspect of the game.
"Having a really young team, and it being a district match, always seems to make it a head game," Kerstner said.
Though the team started strong, things started to fall apart come the second set, added Kerstner.
"We started strong. The girls were playing really well," she said. "Big Bay caught us with some hard servers, but Aiyana had a strong run of 12 serves which brought us home in the first set.
"We started the second set a little chaotic and just couldn't reel it back in under control."
Addie Christoff led the Rockets in both kills and digs with 10 and 12, respectively. Emma Sundling had 20 assists for the team, while Monica Thibault (nine) and Gracie Stemick (eight) each collected several kills throughout the match.
As the season closes for the Rockets, Kerstner was pleased with her team and how they performed in the 2021 season.
"I'm proud of the girls for pushing hard all season," she said. "Even if we were down, they never gave up and would usually give the opponent a run for their money."
The Black Bears are in action today against the Superior Central Cougars, again, playing on their home gym floor in Garden Corners.