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ST. NICHOLAS -- Senior Payton Pederson gave the Big Bay de Noc Black Bears an energy boost here Tuesday night as they surged to a 3-1 (25-22, 19-25, 25-20, 25-20) volleyball triumph over the Rock Mid Peninsula Wolverines.
Big Bay, which improved to 3-0 overall, gained a 21-20 lead on a Mid Pen service error in the third set of this Central U.P. Conference opener.
Pederson then served for four straight points, including three consecutive aces, to end that set.
"That was absolutely the turning point," Big Bay coach Angie Carley said. "We have a young team. We were surprised when some of our returners didn't come out this year, but the girls take everything in stride and do the best they can. They never give up."
Big Bay took a 15-12 lead when sophomore Adelynn Jasch tipped the ball over the net for a kill before Mid Pen tied the score at 16 on an ace eighth-grader Gracianna Latvala.
Mid Pen pulled even at 17 on a Big Bay serving miscue, then committed back-to-back hitting errors, enabling the Black Bears to regain the lead (19-17).
Big Bay took a 19-17 lead in the fourth set on an ace by freshman Kentlee DesJarden before the Wolverines tied the score on a pair of return errors.
A hitting miscue then foiled the Wolverines and the Black Bears responded with four consecutive points, gaining a 23-19 advantage on a kill by Pederson.
The Wolverines shaved their deficit to 23-20 on a passing miscue before Big Bay sealed the verdict by cashing in on service and return errors.
"We're not going to hang our heads tonight," Mid Pen coach Emily Kayser said. "I thought the girls played hard. I was certainly impressed with the way they shared the ball. It's a learning curve. I'm happy with the effort and the way they attacked the net."
An ace by senior Abbigale Klee gave the Wolverines a 14-6 cushion in the first set.
Mid Pen also led 16-8 following an offensive error by the Black Bears.
The Wolverines then made a series of mistakes as Big Bay climbed within 16-13.
Mid Pen still led 20-16 before Big Bay climbed within a point on back-to-back hitting miscues by the Wolverines.
Big Bay trailed 22-20 after committing a service error prior to scoring the last five points, ending the opening set on a kill by Pederson.
Mid Pen junior Madelyn Lofquist opened the second set with a five-point service run.
The Wolverines led 16-8 after defensive miscue by the Black Bears.
An ace by Pederson brought BIg Bay within 17-14 before it committed a service and two errors on returns, enabling Mid Pen to gain a six-point advantage.
The Wolverines gained a 24-17 cushion before kills by DesJarden and an ace by freshman Brooklynn Partein cut Big Bay's deficit to five points.
Big Bay then committed a service error to end the second.
Pederson finished with five aces, 12 kills and 10 digs. DesJarden added three aces and four kills and Gates contributed two aces, three kills, 14 assists and four digs.
"Payton and Ivy are already taking on a leadership role," Carley said. "Ivy is a young setter, but she's doing a good job and the rest of the girls have a lot of complement. We missed a lot of serves and even the girls said they need to work on serving."
Klee and junior Vivian Norden served for five aces apiece. Klee also collected eight kills and five digs and junior Madelyne Lofquist had 11 assists.
The Black Bears host Superior Central Friday and the Wolverines visit Powers North Central Tuesday.
Big Bay de Noc -- Pederson (five aces, 12 kills, 10 digs); DesJarden (three aces, four kills); Gates (two aces, three kills, 14 assists, four digs).
Rock Mid Peninsula -- Klee (five aces, eight kills, five digs); Norden (five aces, one kill, one assist); M. Latvala (three aces, four kills, 11 assists); G. Latvala (three aces, four kills, one assist, two digs); G. Lofquist (two aces, one kill, two assists, three digs); Castor (two aces, one kill, five digs).