Bay College freshman Hilarie Pocaro delivers a serve against Gogebic Community College on Oct. 20, 2025 at Bay College. (Adam Hinch/Daily Press)

ESCANABA — Just when things started to get a little shaky, the Bay College Norse managed to right their ship in time to post a 3-1 (25-15, 25-19, 26-28, 25-19) volleyball victory over the Gogebic Community College Samsons on sophomore night here Monday.

Momentum had swung in Gogebic’s favor after winning the third set.

The Samsons then took a 10-6 lead in the fourth before a kill by freshman middle blocker Haylee Gatien gave the Norse a sideout.

Bay (12-9) closed within 10-9 on a Samson hitting error and was trailing 12-10 following a hitting miscue of its own.

A kill by sophomore outside hitter Mia Hauser tied the score at 12 which was followed by a volleyball which lasted more than a minute.

Sophomore outside hitter Addie Morton ended that sequence with a kill, giving Bay a 13-12 lead.

“We knew it could be a little demoralizing to the team which didn’t get that point,” Bay coach Dan Porath said. “We would have rather finished it in three because when we get into that situation, we sometimes tend to stay down.”

A kill by freshman outside hitter Ava Maki put the Norse up 14-12.

Bay then gained a 15-12 lead on a hitting error prior to committing a service error, enabling Gogebic (7-14) to pull within 15-13.

The Norse extended their lead to 19-13 on a two-hit violation by the Samsons.

A kill by Hauser gave the Norse a 21-14 cushion and Gatien added a block for an insurmountable 23-16 advantage.

Bay’s lead melted to 23-19 on a hitting miscue before Gatien and freshman defensive specialist Sonja Kiviniemi got kills to seal the verdict.

“It was good,” Gatien said. “We pulled through. They really pushed us to get better. They really came out strong in the fourth set. They put up a good fight. I think we’re go back and look at that long volley on film and time it. I think that really brought us together. That’s when we really got it back. That showed we had to play good volleyball.”

The Norse were in position to put this one away in the third set when they took a 23-17 on a kill by freshman middle blocker Madison Gamble.

A lift violation, however, allowed the Samsons to pull within 23-21.

Gatien provided Bay with a block, giving it a 24-21 cushion. The Norse, however, were unable to hold on, forcing a fourth set.

“They did a real good job defensively,” Porath said. “We had some good hits and they were digging them up.”

The Samsons were trailing 15-9 after a four-hit infraction in the third, but climbed within 16-15 on a service ace by Alli Bobula.

A kill by Hauser provided a sideout for the Norse, who surged to their six-point lead.

In the opener, Maki served for five straight points, helping the Norse gain a 9-3 lead.

A Norse hitting miscue enabled the Samson to get within 11-9

The Samson were still within 14-11 following freshman Macy Linsenbigler’s block on Hauser.

Back-to-back aces by Hauser and a four-hit infraction, however allowed Bay to gain an 18-11 advantage.

The Norse continued to extend their lead through the remainder of the first set which ended on a kill by Morton.

In the second set, the Norse led 16-9 following a block by Gatien before the Samsons closed within 20-17 on a service error.

A kill by freshman Audra Pawlik brought Gogebic within 23-19 before the Norse secured that set on a kill by Gatien.

Morton finished with 15 kills. Gatien added 14 kills and four blocks and Hauser tallied 13 kills and 18 digs.

Freshman setter Hope Varoni collected 47 assists and 15 digs. Sophomore libero Jade Jasenovsky had 27 digs.

The Norse travel downstate for matches at Muskegon Community College Friday and Grand Rapids Community College Saturday.

They concluded their regular season by hosting Alpena Community College on Pink-out Night Oct. 29. Proceeds will go to a family in need.

Bay College — Hauser (two aces, 13 kills, 18 dugs); Porcaro (two aces, two kills, 14 digs); Maki (one ace, eight kills, eight digs); Varoni (one ace, 15 digs); Franz (one ace, five digs); Sundling (one ace); Morton (15 kills, three assists); Gatien (14 kills, four blocks, one dig); Schaal (five kills, two digs); Gamble (two kills); Kiviniemi (one kill, two digs); Varoni (47 assists, 15 digs); Jasenovsky (27 digs).