ESCANABA — Persistence paid off in a big way for the Bay College Norse here Tuesday night as they outlasted Montcalm Community College in three tough sets (26-24, 28-26, 26-24)

The Centurions had set point in all three before the Norse found a way to prevail.

“Our offense was very efficient,” Bay coach Dan Porath said. “We didn’t give them any easy points. They had to work for every one. When you’re in a close match, you have to be a little more focused than the other team. We’ve struggled to close sets out. We’re hoping this win goes a long way for us.”

A kill by freshman Mia Hauser provided the Norse with the match-winner, enabling them to improve to 3-8.

“They were playing way up on us and I noticed an opening further back,” she said. “It’s very, very exciting to see our hard work paying off. There was a sense of relief after we pulled this one out.”

Back-to-back kills by 6-foot-2 sophomore Maia Sexton gave Montcalm (4-7) a 24-23 lead.

The Norse then got a sideout on a kill by sophomore middle hitter Piper Monroe to tie the score before taking a 25-24 lead on a Centurions’ hitting miscue.

“Piper has been phenomenal,” Porath said. “In the last 3-4 matches, she was excellent and Jade (Jasenovsky), our setter, played lights out, which is why they were the offensive players of the week in the conference (MCCAA North) last week.”

In the opener, Bay was trailing 24-23 after a hitting miscue.

Montcalm then committed a pair of passing errors prior to the Norse closing the set on a kill by Hauser.

The next two sets were nearly a carbon copy of the first

That was also evident In the second as a tip kill by sophomore Sexton gave the Centurions a 25-24 lead.

Kills by Monroe and Hauser gave the Norse a 26-25 lead before Sexton provided Montcalm with a kill to tie the score at 26.

Service and hitting errors then foiled the Centurions, enabling the Norse to win that set.

“Number 14 (Sexton) created some match-up problems,” Hauser said. “Piper is very good and was able to slow down her attack a little. She’s tough to stop. As a team we’re learning where we need work and where our strengths are.”

Monroe, who scored 18.5 points, led Bay with 15 kills and six blocks. Freshman hitter Addie Morton added six kills and Hauser tallied five.

Bay freshman setter Kayla Swanson collected seven assists.

“I give all the credit to my teammates,” she said. “The home environment helps, too. It’s so loud in here. Coach told us to keep our cool and force them to make errors. This is a big confidence builder. Number 14 was big. I was scared in the back row a little, but Piper gets up high. She’s definitely our leading blocker. Our front row was swinging hard. We always start our offense with the pass and our hitters rely on us to get the ball to them.”

Jasenovsky was Bay’s defensive leader with 22 digs. Hauser added 11 and Ella Brand had six.

The Norse travel to Petoskey to face North Central Michigan tonight at 6:30.

Bay College — Moore (two aces, one kill); Hauser (one ace, five kills, two blocks, 11 digs); Jasenovsky (one ace, 22 digs); Hauser (one ace, five kills, two blocks, 11 digs); Monroe (15 kills, six blocks); Morton (six kills, one dig); Saxton (four kills, one block); Hansen (three kills, one block, two digs); Stepien (two kills, four digs); Swanson (one block, seven assists, three digs); Brand (one assist, six digs); Pocaro (three digs).