MUNISING — The Newberry Indians enjoyed a successful run through pool play where they finished 5-1 in the Munising Invitational volleyball tournament here Saturday.

Newberry split with Ishpeming 25-22, 16-25 in its opener, then swept Rock Mid Peninsula (25-13, 25-16) and Superior Central (25-16, 25-20).

The Indians then dropped a 25-19 decision to a vastly-improved Gwinn team in a one-set match in bracket play.

“We kept our momentum and energy up,” Newberry coach Kayla Welker said. “A tournament like this really helps a team. This helps us prepare for our conference schedule.”

Ishpeming was crowned champion for the third consecutive time following a 25-23, 26-24 victory over the host Mustangs.

The Indians took an 8-3 lead against Gwinn on a kill by junior outside hitter Rylie Burton before the Modeltowners got a sideout and surged to a 12-8 lead on an eight-point service run.

Gwinn continued to extend its lead which reached 24-14 before Newberry got a sideout.

Junior Delaney Bliss kept the Indians’ hopes alive with a four-point service run, bringing them within 24-18 prior to a serving miscue.

“Delaney served well,” Welker said. “She had to do that at game point which is a lot of pressure. This is an early point in the season. Everybody’s getting used to everybody. We got a chance to play teams we normally don’t see and many of them were evenly matched. Number 10’s service run gave them the momentum they needed.”

Burton hit eight service aces to go with five kills and two blocks. Sophomore setter Sydney Duflo also had eight aces. Junior middle hitter Natalie Whalen added four aces, seven kills and seven blocks. Freshman outside hitter Becca Rahilly had four aces, six kills and a block and senior middle hitter Aliya Taylor tallied two aces, six kills and seven blocks.

Newberry returns to Munising for a dual match Sept. 2 at 7 p.m.

The Indians will be road warriors through September, make their first home appearance against Cedarville-DeTour Oct. 2.