Gladstone junior Brooklyn Lauscher sets the ball for Gladstone in their game against Iron Mountain on Oct. 2, 2025 at Gladstone High School. (Adam Hinch/Daily Press

GLADSTONE — The Gladstone Braves overcame adversity in a big way here Thursday night in a 3-1 (25-14, 20-25, 26-24, 25-16) volleyball triumph over the Iron Mountain Mountaineers.

After dropping the first set, the Mountaineers controlled the pace in the second and led 16-4 in the third before the Braves began their comeback in this Mid-Peninsula Conference match.

“They definitely played their game in the second set,” Braves’ senior Lilly Johnson said. “I think they got us out of position. Adele (Ostlund) definitely brought our energy up and we followed behind her. Coach (Kaitlyn Hardwick) told us to play our game at our speed. This is a great confidence boost. We came into the match knowing they were a good team.”

A service ace by junior Ava Sardina gave the Mountaineers their 12-point cushion in the third.

The Brave were still training 19-9 after they committed a service error.

Gladstone then got a sideout on a kill by Johnson and junior Brooklyn Lauscher served for six straight points to pull the Braves within 19-16.

Iron Mountain extended its lead to 24-19 on a kill by junior Ava Marttila before the Braves answered with a 7-0 run, ending that set on a kill by freshman Makenna Mills.

Hardwick said junior Mercedes Koski also played a major role in the Braves’ victory.

“Mercedes pulled us out of it and Adele played very well,” she added. “Lilly also helps us out a lot. This was a very interesting match. A lot of the teams are pretty even. I don’t think the girls were surprised by what happened.”

Iron Mountain took a 10-9 lead on a kill by junior Margot McRoberts in the fourth set.

That set was tied at 11 before Koski recorded an ace to give the Braves a 12-11 lead.

Gladstone took a 16-12 lead on a kill by Ostlund before a serving error enabled the Mountaineers to shave their deficit to three points.

The Braves took advantage of two passing errors and Johnson and Lauscher added a kill apiece to put Gladstone up 20-13

A five-point service run, including an ace, by junior Joselyn Mills also helped the Braves as they went up by eight points.

The Braves extended their lead to 23-14 on an ace by Makenna Mills, then committed hitting and defensive miscues, leaving them ahead by seven points.

Gladstone followed with a hitting miscue before the match ended on back-to-back hitting errors by the Mountaineers.

Makenna Mills began the opener with an eight-point run.

Iron Mountain got within 20-11 on a Braves’ four-hit violation.

Gladstone didn’t allow the Mountaineers to get any closer, however, as a kill by senior Addy Blowers concluded that set.

In the second set, Gladstone took an 11-10 lead on an offensive miscue by the Mountaineers.

The Mountaineers, aided on a kill by Marttila and an ace by junior Emma Bouchard, helped them extend their lead to 15-11.

Gladstone climbed within 15-14 on a kill by Johnson and 16-15 on a Mountaineers’ hitting miscue.

After a sideout, Iron Mountain surged to a 22-15 advantage.

A kill by Lauscher got the Braves within four points, but they were unable to catch the Mountaineers in this set.

“We changed our whole rotation,” Mountaineers’ coach Emma Cronkright said. “We worked on being aggressive. When you find a group that can click, it can turn things around. Our communication was good in the second set and for a while in the third. It’s about how you defend their front row. I think we were pretty evenly matched. I think this opened their eyes a little.”

The Braves travel to Menominee Monday before hosting Marquette Tuesday. The Mountaineers host Kingsford in their pink-out match Tuesday.