EBEN JUNCTION — Lengthy service runs figured prominently in a non-conference volleyball match here Tuesday night as Superior Central made short work of Rock Mid Peninsula.

The Cougars needed just 50 minutes to secure a 3-0 (25-8, 25-18, 25-5) victory over the Wolverines, who had only seven available players.

An 11-point run by sophomore Lilly Simon all but sealed the verdict as the Cougars (9-9) surged to an insurmountable 20-3 advantage in the finale.

“The girls actually didn’t play as well as they usually play,” Cougars’ coach Kris Bray said. “We normally don’t miss as many serves as we did tonight. It didn’t look like they could run their offense with our serving.”

The match ended on a service ace by senior middle/outside hitter Marissa Strohm.

Mid Pen (1-14) played without senior Tessa Lofquist, who was out with the flu.

“We had people playing in different spots,” Mid Pen coach Emily Kayser said. “We had to go with a different rotation and the girls had a hard time adjusting to that. Teams have off nights and tonight was our off night. We just have to put this one behind us and move on.”

The Wolverines were within 15-14 following a block by sophomore Vivian Norden

After a sideout, Simon served for five straight points, including an ace, as the Cougars gained a 21-14 advantage.

An ace by Strohm gave Superior Central a 24-15 cushion before Mid Pen shaved its deficit to six points on an ace by senior Gallie Haring.

The Wolverines then committed a service error, enabling the Cougars to secure that set.

Superior Central took a 14-10 lead on a kill by sophomore middle/outside hitter Kylie Stuer before Mid Pen got within a point.

“We were communicating and passing to each other better in the second set,” Kayser said. “Kylie is phenomenal all-around. They have some strong hitters. Superior Central is fundamentally sound.”

Stuer provided the Cougars with a five-point run in the first set as they surged to an 11-4 lead.

The teams then combined for five straight serving miscues before the Wolverines committed a hitting error, which gave the Cougars a 16-8 cushion.

Stuer then got a kill for a 17-8 advantage, signalling the start of a nine-point run by sophomore outside/middle hitter Lillian Lindgren, which concluded the opener.

“We got everybody in and they played well,” Bray said. “We told the girls ‘you can’t underestimate anybody’ and they played up to their level for the most part.”

Haring finished with three aces and Norden added two for the Wolverines, who visit Rapid River tonight at 6 p.m.

Sophomore setter Madelyne Lofquist collected four assists and junior Abbigale Klee had two kills and a block.

The Cougars visit Big Bay de Noc tonight at 6.

Rock Mid Peninsula — Haring (three aces, two digs); Norden (two aces, one kill, two digs); Klee (two kills, one block, two digs); Latvala (one kill, one dig); M. Lofquist (one block, four assists); Riley-Holtzlander (one block); Brunngraeber (three digs).