KINGSFORD — The Escanaba Eskymos tried their best to stay in contention here Tuesday night before dropping a 3-1 (18-25, 34-32, 25-19, 26-24) volleyball decision to the Kingsford Flivvers.

This Great Northern Conference match appeared to be headed for a fifth set when the Eskymos took a 20-16 lead in the fourth.

The Flivvers, however, rallied to tie the score at 20 on a kill by junior Mya Brunswick.

Esky led 24-23 following a lift violation by the Flivvers.

Defensive, four-hit and hitting miscues then foiled the Eskymos, enabling the Flivvers to seal the verdict.

“We couldn’t keep that momentum going,” Esky coach Beverly Ziebell said. “The match score (3-1) does not reflect how well our girls played. I’m really proud of them. They really stepped it up. We played well together. Kingsford has a good team, no doubt about it. Although, we should have had that one.”

Kingsford got the upper hand in the third set, gaining a 10-5 on an Esky lift violation.

The Eskymos got within 13-11 on a service error and trailed 15-12 following a kill by junior Brooklyn Beauchamp.

Kingsford, however, extended its lead to 20-13 on another four-hit violation.

Esky shaved its deficit to 23-18 on a kill by senior Susie Moberg, but was unable to catch the Flivvers.

The second set was tied at 32 before junior Mylee Kreider provided the Flivvers with a kill, putting them in position to even the match at one set apiece.

“It was exciting,” Kingsford coach Jaclynn Kreider said. “We didn’t want to drop two. That was the one we had to have. That was huge. We ran out of subs. When that happens and get into extra points, you’ve got to make the right calls. They were so scrappy. It was hard to get any momentum. They were making so many good defensive plays.”

Kingsford trailed 19-16 after a net violation before taking a 21-20 lead on a return error by Esky.

It was nip-and-tuck through the remainder of the second before the Flivvers closed it out.

“I think the Flivvers got their energy in the second set,” Ziebell said. “It was very challenging. We got a little wild with our serves. Hitting and serving errors hurt us at different times.”

The teams see-sawed through the remainder of that set before the Flivvers came out on top.

Kingsford led 6-3 after a kill by Mylee Kreider in the opener.

The Eskymos then got a sideout and Beauchamp served for eight straight points, giving them a 12-6 lead.

Kingsford crept within 14-13 on a kill by Olson and was within 16-15 prior to committing a passing error.

Esky gained a 20-15 cushion on a hitting miscue before Kingsford trimmed its deficit to 21-18 on a kill by freshman setter Mckynzee Kreider.

The Eskymos finished that set with a 4-0 run, climaxed on a kill by Bray.

Stahlboerger collected 10 kills. Moberg added seven and Bray and senior setter Mary Kate Tourangeau had six each.

Tourangeau also had 15 assists and Beauchamp added 10.

Coolman recorded five aces and 28 digs. Senior Dubord collected four aces and 13 digs. Anderson also had four aces.

Mylee Kreider paced the Flivvers with an ace, nine kills and 20 digs. Mckynzee Kreider contributed a pair of aces, eight kills and 19 assists. Senior Karly Trevillian ended with three aces, 10 assists and five digs. Brunswick had eight kills, two blocks and 12 digs.

Both teams play tonight. Esky hosts Gladstone and Kingsford travels to Calumet. Each match begins at 7.

Kingsford — Trevillian (three aces, 10 assists, five digs); Mycknzee Kreider (two aces, eight kills,18 assists); Mylee Kreider (one ace, nine kills, 20 digs); Brunswick (one ace, eight kills, two blocks, 12 kills); Smeester (one ace, six digs); Olson (six kills, one block); Wallis (six kills); Jarski (three kills, three blocks); Nash (nine digs).

Escanaba — Coolman (five aces, 28 digs); Beauchamp (four aces, four kills, 10 assists, eight digs); Dubord (four aces, 13 digs); Anderson (three aces, four kills, one dig); Stahlboerger (10 kills, six digs); Moberg (seven kills, three digs); Tourangeau (six kills, 15 assists, five digs); Bray (six kills, four digs).