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KINGSFORD -- The Kingsford Flivvers continued to take care of their homecourt here Saturday, earning top honors in their own invitational volleyball tournament for the fourth consecutive year.
They accomplished that feat by defeating the Hancock Bulldogs 25-18, 25-14 in the title match.
"This is a fun group to coach," Kingsford coach Jaclynn Kreider said. "They work really hard. We've done well the past few years."
Escanaba and Gladstone reached bracket play and Bark River-Harris dropped all three of its matches.
Hancock was within 9-6 following a hitting error and 12-8 after the Flivvers committed a net violation in the first set.
Kingsford then extended its lead to 16-8, forcing the Bulldogs to use a time-out.
Hancock was within 17-11 following a block by Jana Pietila before the Flivvers gained an insurmountable 21-12 advantage on a Bulldogs' service error.
Kingsford's Mylee Kreider rifled a kill along the left sideline to open the second set.
Hancock took a 4-3 lead before a block by Kingsford's Staysha Jarski tied the score.
The score was tied at five before the Bulldogs committed a defensive error, who then fell behind 11-5 on another defensive miscue.
Hancock shaved its deficit to 11-7 before the Flivvers got a sideout and five-point cushion on a kill by Lakyn Willis.
Kingsford gained a 19-12 lead on a kill by Mylee Kreider, then surged to an insurmountable 23-13 advantage on a serving miscue by the Bulldogs.
"Lakyn and Mylee really played well at the net," coach Kreider said. "We were passing well and able to get the ball to them. They (Bulldogs) were scrappy. They had some nice hitters and were fun competition for us."
The Flivvers also defeated Hancock in pool play 25-23, 25-17 and posted victories over BR-H (25-16, 25-14) and Felch North Dickinson (25-20, 25-11)
They opened bracket play with a 25-18, 25-14 over shorthanded Esky, then defeated Negaunee 25-15, 26-24 in the semifinals.
Hancock hung on for a 25-20, 26-28, 15-13 triumph over Houghton in a battle for the Portage Canal in the semifinals.
The Bulldogs cruised past BR-H (25-10, 25-6) and defeated Norway (25-21, 25-18) in pool play and beat Gladstone (25-10, 25-11) in the quarterfinals.
"Kingsford has a good team," Hancock coach Brian Lamppa. "They have a real good program. They're an experienced team and they're well coached. For us it's a matter of understanding what it takes to learn how to compete at that level. We were missing an outside hitter who's probably our best player, although that created opportunities for other kids to gain experience. You get better by playing better competition."
Mya Brunswick led the Flivvers from the serving line with 16 aces. Mylee Kreider added 11 and Mckynzee Kreider collected 10.
Mylee Kreider recorded 39 kills. Mckynzee Kreider contributed 15. Jarski tallied 13 and Wallis finished with 11.
Mckynzee Kreider also had 57 assists and 42 digs. Alivia Nash added 38 digs. Wallis collected 32 and Onika Smeester had 22.
The Flivvers, who finished with 212 digs, travel to Appleton for the Beast of the Northeast tournament this weekend.
Esky, which was missing four players including three starters, split with West Iron County (25-21, 23-25) and Iron Mountain (15-23, 25-13) and fell to Houghton (25-17, 25-17) in pool play.
Senior Brooklyn Beauchamp led the Eskymos with 27 kills, one block, three service aces and 25 digs. Junior Sarah LeMire added two aces, 11 kills and 29 digs and Abigail Derkos had four aces, a block, 15 assists and eight digs.
"The rest of our team stepped up," Esky coach Bev Ziebell said. "Our serving was pretty good today. We were up against some pretty tough teams. We were seeded sixth out of 12 teams in pool play, which I think is pretty good considering we were missing four players. We're just going to get better from here."
Gladstone beat North Dickinson (26-24, 25-19), split with Menominee (19-25, 25-15) and lost to Negaunee (25-10, 25-10) in pool play.
BR-H bowed to Hancock (25-10, 25-6), Kingsford (25-16, 25-12) and Norway (25-20, 25-20).
The Broncos host Menominee Tuesday. Esky hosts Marquette Wednesday and Gladstone visits Menominee Thursday.
Escanaba -- Derkos (four aces, two kills, one block, 15 assists, eight digs); Beauchamp (three aces, 27 kills, one block, 25 digs); LeMire (two aces, 11 kills, 29 digs); Fitzpatrick (two aces, seven kills, two blocks, 13 assists, six digs); Reimer (two aces, two kills, one dig); LaBonte (seven kills, three blocks); Parlato (one kill, two digs).
Kingsford -- Brunswick (16 aces, eight kills, one assist, 17 digs) Mylee Kreider (11 aces, 39 kills, three assists, 38 digs); Mckynzee Kreider (10 aces, 15 kills, 57 assists, 42 digs); Nash (six aces, nine assists, 38 digs); Wallis (five aces, 11 kills, two assists, 32 digs); Smeester (two aces, seven assists, 22 digs); Jarski (13 kills, nine digs); Edwards (eight kills, two assists, 13 digs); Haelterman (two assists, one dig).