The Florence volleyball team poses with The Rock trophy on Sept. 14, 2024 at Gladstone High School. (Adam Hinch/Daily Press)

ESCANABA — There were seven teams competing at The Rock Tournament in Gladstone on Saturday. Gladstone’s varsity and junior varsity teams along with last year’s winner, Hancock, Gwinn, Florence, Crystal Falls Forest Park and Ishpeming Westwood all made the trip.

The Forest Park Trojans took on the Florence Bobcats in the championship game with Florence taking it in three sets. The game started out close with both teams tied at seven early on. The set stayed close until Forest Park went on a seven-point scoring run to take a 20-11 lead. The Bobcats answered back with a six-point run of their own to cut the defect to 20-17. Forest Park scored five of the next six points to take the first set 25-18.

In the second set, Florence led throughout but on five occasions had the Trojans pull within one.

“I think it was a great experience for our team to come play in this tournament,” Forest Park coach Bobbie Jo Anderson said. “We have played really well this season with our only losses to Kingsford and now Florence”

The third started at 4-4 as did every set during the tournament. Florence showed their dominance in the third set scoring all 11 points on their way to the win. Aubrey Franz had three aces in the third set and senior Kamdan Johnson had three kills in the third set. “Volleyball is such a game of momentum,” Johnson said. “We were talking on the bus that we wanted to come show how much Wisconsin volleyball has grown and to come play and represent our state.”

Florence advanced to the championship game defeating Gladstone 25-12 and 25-13 in two sets in semi final action. Franz had a pair of aces in the five-point run to start the first set against Gladstone. The Braves continued to fight back but the play from Florence was to much for the Braves as they dropped the first set.

Florence jumped out to another lead in the second set but the Braves quickly cut the deficit to one at 8-7 on a pair of aces by Natalie Cartwright. “I feel like we need to have more energy when playing at home,” Braves coach Kaitlyn Hardwick said. “If we can get the energy up for home games we will be in a good position as the season goes on.”

The Braves best showing of the day came against Westwood. The Patriots led 14-13 in the first stanza but the Braves scored nine of the next 10 points to take a 22-15 lead. The Braves went on to win the set 25-18.

In the second set Westwood again had the lead at 10-8, but Lillie Johnson’s net play proved to be more than the Patriots could handle as the Braves went on to win the second set 25-20. Gladstone also won the third set 25-17 in a match that was really on sided for the most part. “Our chemistry as a team is much better this season,” Braves senior Lillie Johnson said. “Expectations are higher and it makes going out and playing more fun.”

In the other semifinal Forest Park defeated Hancock 25-17 and 25-23 to advance.

Hancock junior Alice Larson and senior Brooke Koskela were named to the All-Tournament Team along with Florence senior Kamdan Johnson and freshman Kelsi Chrisman. Forest Park also had a pair of players junior Elsie Williams and junior Ava Fischer named to the All-Tournament team. Gladstone senior Claire Roeske was also named to the All-Tournament team.

Pool Play Scores

Florence vs Hancock, 25-16 (Florence), 25-21 (Hancock); Gladstone JV vs Gwinn 25-23 (Gwinn) 25-23 (Gladstone JV); Hancock swept Gladstone JV, 25-6, 25-21; Florence swept Gwinn 25-8, 25-13; Hancock swept Gwinn 25-12, 25-12; Florence swept Gladstone JV 25-9, 25-12; Forest Park swept Gladstone 25-14, 25-21, 25-16; Gladstone swept Westwood 25-18, 25-20, 25-17; Forest Park swept Westwood 25-15, 25-9, 25-16.