RAPID RIVER — A fast start set the tone for the Big Bay de Noc Black Bears in a 3-1 (25-15, 25-13, 23-25, 25-17) volleyball triumph over the Rapid River Rockets here Tuesday night.

Big Bay grabbed an 8-1 lead in the opener on a service ace by junior Payton Pederson.

Rapid River trimmed its deficit to 9-4 on kill by senior defensive specialist Aubrey Olson.

The Black Bears (12-3) got a sideout on a kill by sophomore Cali Miller and senior Caraghan Thill followed with a five-point service run, extending their lead to 15-4.

Rapid River (3-10) trailed 19-6 after a net violation before shaving its deficit to 23-14 on a hitting miscue by the Black Bears.

The Rockets then committed service and passing errors, enabling the Black Bears to clinch the first set.

Big Bay led 7-4 in the second set after Pederson dug up the ball and converted it into a kill.

Rapid River shaved its deficit to 8-6 on a Big Bay service error, but followed that with a hitting miscue to put the Black Bears up by three points.

Sophomore Destiny Bleau then served for six straight points, helping Big Bay lengthen its lead to 15-6 prior to committing a net violation.

The Black Bears continued to build their lead through the remainder of the second which ended on a return error by the Rockets.

Rapid River, however, didn’t go away that easily.

The Rockets gained a 4-1 lead on a four-hit violation by the Black Bears and extended it to 7-2 on back-to-back passing errors.

“They put up a fight,” Big Bay coach Angie Carley said. “We knew Rapid River wouldn’t just roll over for us. We knew we were going to have to work hard for this one. They’re getting better and their coach (Katrina McNamara) has done some good things with their program. It was one of those things where we lost momentum.”

A kill by Bleau got the Black Bears within 8-6 before they committed a service error and a pair of hitting miscues, enabling the Rockets to gain an 11-6 cushion.

The Rockets led 14-8 following a kill by junior middle blocker Peyton Williams.

Big Bay trailed 18-13 after a serving miscue before getting a sideout on service error.

Thill followed with a five-point run, including two aces, as Big Bay went in front 19-18.

Rapid River regained the lead on an ace by junior defensive specialist Maycee Kuhlman and went up 22-19 before Big Bay used a time-out.

An ace by Bleau got the Black Bears within 24-23 before that set ended on a serving miscue.

“I’m proud of the way the girls came back,” Carley said. “We switched a few things in our rotation in practice. We have a tournament this weekend and wanted the girls to get used to that before Saturday. It should be a good day.”

The fourth set was tied at four before a kill by eighth-grader Kentlee DesJarden gave Big Bay a sideout.

An ace by DesJarden put the Black Bears up 7-4 and sophomore Victoria Durrance got a kill to make it 8-4.

Back-to-back aces by Kuhlman trimmed Rapid River’s deficit to 8-7.

Big Bay surged to a 14-8 lead on two hitting errors before a two-hit infraction enabled Rapid River to get a sideout.

A kill by Thill extended Big Bay’s advantage to 20-11.

Rapid River got within six points on four occasions before Thill sealed the verdict with a kill.

“We feel we have a pretty well-rounded team,” Carley said. “We have some underclassmen stepping up. Kentlee had some good serves and digs.”

Pederson collected five aces. Bleau added four and Thill finished with three.

Thill and Pederson recorded seven kills each. Pederson also had a block and Bleau chipped in with five kills and four blocks.

Senior setter Charlee Klink had 20 assists.

Pederson tallied 21 digs. Miller tallied 14. Thill and Bleau added 13 apiece and DesJarden had six.

The Black Bears host the Northern Lights League tournament Saturday. The Rockets host top-ranked Crystal Falls Forest Park Thursday.

Big Bay de Noc — Pederson (five aces, seven kills, one assist, 21 digs); Bleau (four aces, five kills, four blocks, 13 digs); Thill (three aces, seven kills, one block, 13 digs); Durrance (one ace, four kills, five digs); DesJarden (one ace, one kill, six digs); Miller (three kills, 14 digs); Klink (one kill, 20 assists, six digs).