GLADSTONE — The Escanaba Eskymos blew hot and cold here Thursday night in a 3-0 (25-9, 25-20, 25-13) volleyball victory over the Gladstone Braves.

After dominating the first set, the Eskymos appeared to be in cruise control in the second as they gained a 10-2 advantage on a Braves’ miscue.

The Braves began to whittle away at their deficit and climbed within 16-12 on back-to-back hitting errors by the Eskymos.

A kill by Stalboeger put Esky back up by four points before it committed a hitting miscue and two-hit violating, helping Gladstone climb within 17-16.

The Eskymos were clinging to an 18-17 lead before getting a sideout on a kill by sophomore Grayson LaMarche.

Esky then surged to a 22-17 advantage and didn’t allow the Braves to get closer than four points through the remainder of the set.

“Sometimes it’s so tough to stay focused,” said Esky coach Adam Lambert. “In the first set, we handled them pretty well. Then, we changed our rotation in the second set. Gladstone played better in the second and third sets. They received and moved the ball better.

“I think we got a little overconfident, which is something you can’t do. You have to play for every point.”

The finale was tied at 10 after a hitting miscue by the Eskymos.

Moments later, Gladstone committed a defensive error, giving Esky a sideout and an 11-10 lead.

Senior Mari Bink then provided the Eskymos with a nine-point service run for an insurmountable 20-10 advantage.

“I think we did quite good, especially for against Escanaba,” said Braves coach Averi Kanyuh. “For what we lack in height, we try to make it up with defense. I think we were a little intimidated at first until we started passing the ball. In the second set, we did better with blocking, and keying and moving with their hitters. We definitely picked up our communication, and Kennedy (Sanville) did a nice job serving.”

Esky’s Carney Salo opened the match with a five-point run, and Mara Liss added an 11-point run for a 17-3 advantage in the first.

Stalboerger led the Eskymos with 11 kills and two blocks. LaMarche added eight kills, and Bink collected seven assists.

“We moved Carney from setter to defensive specialist, and she did well,” said coach Lambert. “We also moved Aleaha to the middle and Grayson to the left side, and they did well. In the third set, our goal was to hold them to single digits again, and we fell a little short of that.”

The Eskymos, who won the JV and freshman matches in two sets, are entered in Saturday’s Traverse City Invitational. The Braves host the “Rock” Invitational Saturday.

Escanaba — Bink (three aces, three kills, seven assists, three digs); Salo (three aces, three assists, two digs); Stalboerger (two aces, 11 kills, two blocks, one assist, one dig); LaMarche (two aces, eight kills); Lambert (one ace, four kills, two digs); Peloza (one ace, one kill, five assists); Liss (one ace, four digs); McInerney (two digs); Boosamra (one dig).