Big Bay de Noc sophomore Victoria Durrance prepares to serve against Munising Baprist on Aug. 22, 2025 at Big Bay de Noc School. (Adam Hinch/Daily Press)

GARDEN CORNERS — Big Bay de Noc’s serving was right on target for the most part here Friday night in a 3-0 (25-7, 25-10, 25-11) volleyball triumph over Munising Baptist.

Sophomore Destiny Bleau provided the Black Bears with a 13-point run in the opener and added nine-point run in the third set of this Northern Lights League season debut.

Bleau all but finished the match with three of her 15 aces for a 23-8 advantage.

Senior Caragan Thill led the Black Bears at the net with five kills.

“We’re very fortunate to have at least one of them in the front line at all times,” Big Bay coach Angie Carley said. “All-around that makes a difference for us. Watching them, I couldn’t help but notice they were a smaller team, but they had a couple girls really going for the ball. I think that will help them as the season goes on.”

The Bobcats took a 6-5 lead on a Big Bay hitting error and were still within 9-7 following a serving miscue.

Back-to-back aces by senior Payton Pederson put the Black Bears up by four points.

Munising Baptist was within 13-8 following a service error before Big Bay got a sideout, setting the stage for Bleau’s match-clinching run.

“This was a great learning experience,” Bobcats’ coach Alissa MacArthur said. “It was nice to see the girls learn and grow from this. It was a major improvement for us to get 10 and 11 points in the last two sets. We still have a lot of learning to do. Most of all, we want the girls to have fun.”

Bleau’s big run in the first set gave Big Bay a 24-7 advantage.

The Black Bears trailed 5-4 following a miscue on a return in the second set, then got a sideout on a lift violation.

Senior Kelsey Frankovich followed with a nine-point, including an ace which gave Big Bay a 14-5 cushion.

Sophomore Victoria Durrance then closed the second by serving for five consecutive points.

Pederson finished with five aces. Durrance and senior Charlee Klink added four apiece and Frankovich had three.

The Black Bears changed their offensive formation which Carley believes helped the team.

“We always ran a 6-2 but went to a 5-1 this year,” she said. “The girls did real well talking to each other. Overall, they did a pretty nice job. We have 14 on the team and the younger girls filled in very nicely. They all got into the match. Caragan made good choices with the ball which was very helpful and Destiny really served well. All and all this was a good way to start the season.”

Klink also had five assists and eight-grade setter Ivy Gates had four for Big Bay, which hosts Rock Mid Peninsula Tuesday.

The summary:

Big Bay de Noc — Bleau (15 aces, two kills, one assist, three digs); Pederson (five aces); Klink (four aces, five digs); Durrance (four aces, one dig); Frankovich (three aces, two digs); Thill (five kills); Gates (four assists).