Big Bay de Noc senior Caragan Thill delivers a serve against Hannahville on Oct. 1, 2025 at Hannahville School. (Adam Hinch/Daily Press)

HANNAHVILLE — The Big Bay de Noc Black Bears put together a handful of lengthy service runs, enough to post a 3-0 (25-9, 25-14, 25-12) volleyball victory over the Hannahville Soaring Eagles here Wednesday night.

Big Bay had a pair of six-point runs in the first set, including an early one by junior Caragan Thill and another by sophomore Destiny Bleau which ended that set.

Freshman Alexus Paupore provided the Black Bears with an eight-point run for a 9-1 lead in the second and Bleau added an eight-point run for a 21-6 advantage.

“One of the biggest things tonight was our serving,” Big Bay coach Angie Carley said. “That’s what we needed. That got us points on the board really quick. We had some good volleys on both sides which were fun to watch.”

After Hannahville took a 2-1 lead on a kill by senior Brittany Thunder in the third, a defensive error tied the score.

Paupore then served for 12 straight points, giving the Black Bears a 14-2 cushion.

Big Bay led by as much as 21-7 following a kill by sophomore Victoria Durrance.

Hannahville, however, was unable to get closer than 12 points through the remainder of the finale in Breanna Bedgood’s varsity coaching debut.

“I would say the girls played with a lot of energy,” she said. “We’re very young. We lost one girl with a knee injury and some of the younger girls had to step up. We’re learning how to run an offense and when to position ourselves for defense. You always have to follow your eyes on the ball.”

In the opener, the Soaring Eagles took a 3-1 lead on a kill by Grayce Williams.

Big Bay surged to a 9-3 lead on a kill by Bleau before Hannahville trimmed its deficit to 9-5 on a kill by Kataleena Wabanimkee.

The Soaring Eagles were still within 10-6 before the Black Bears began to pull away.

After trailing 21-6 in the second set, Hannahville shaved its deficit to 22-14 prior to committing a service error.

The Black Bears then scored the last two points in that set which ended on a kill by Thill.

Thill finished with six service aces, eight kills, six blocks and six digs. Senior setter Charlee Klink added two aces and 14 assists. Paupore had two aces to go with 10 digs. Senior Payton Pederson finished with eight kills and nine digs and Bleau had four kills, a block and nine digs.

The Black Bears (12-3), who hosted Grand Marais Thursday, travel to Bay Mills Ojibwe Charter Monday. The Soarings Eagles have matches at Grand Marais Friday and Saturday.