Carney-Nadeau senior Elodie Lenca attempts to make a play at the net against Rapid River on Sept. 19, 2025 at Rapid River High School. (Adam Hinch)

RAPID RIVER — Carney-Nadeau found themselves on the right side of a four-set volleyball match as they defeated Rapid River 25-10, 24-26, 25-12, 25-22 in a Skyline Central Conference match here Thursday.

Carney-Nadeau eighth grader Jenah Ernest had a big game with six aces and five kills in the win.

“We got off to a good start,” Ernest said. “We kind off started slowing down and losing it but we got it back together and pulled out the win.”

The Wolves jumped out to an early 9-1 lead in the first set on an eight-point serving run by Ernest including three aces in the run.

The Rockets cut the deficit to 15-10 on a kill by junior Saylor Carlson. The Wolves ended the first set on a 10-point serving run by senior Meadow Walcher who also had three aces in the run.

In the second set, the Wolves jumped out to a 9-4 lead. The Rockets responded by scoring the next five points to tie the game at nine.

The Wolves answered with a four-point serving run by junior Paige Jardeen who had a pair of aces in the run and finished with four on the night.

The Rockets scored six of the next eight points and they trailed the Wolves 16-15. Both teams went back and forth late in the set and Carlson had a pair of kills and finished with six for the game.

“This was the good team we had in middle school,” Carlson said. “We all know each other and how everyone plays and we have a lot of chemistry with each other.”

The Wolves tied the game at 24 but the Rockets closed it out scoring the last two points.

“Saylor is one of my captains,” Rockets coach Katrina McNamara said. “She used to play middle and we moved her to outside hitter and she is cranking away and it’s awesome to see.”

In the third set Rapid River jumped out to a 7-6 lead early but the Wolves scored 14 of the next 19 points to take a 21-11 lead and closed out the set scoring four of the next five points.

“One thing we do really well is fight hard to make plays on the court,” Wolves coach Steve Kedsch said. “I think we had a few lapses tonight but they were able to pick it back up and get it done.”

In the fourth set, the Rockets jumped out to a 7-3 lead but the Wolves responded scoring 10 of the next 13 points to put the Wolves up 14-10. The Rockets led 17-16 late but the Wolves battled to win the set 25-22.

“Rapid played like a team that wanted to win tonight,” Kedsch said. “You could see how hard they played and all the effort they put into it. They have struggled the past couple years but they are definitely trying to turn their program around.”

Rapid River will be back in action Tuesday as they travel to Munising. Carney-Nadeau returns to action Thursday as they travel to Menominee.