Miners end Braves season
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GLADSTONE -- The Negaunee Miners had no trouble in the third set as they swept the Gladstone Braves (25-18, 25-15, 25-6) in straight sets in a District 33 quarterfinal here Monday.
The Miners jumped out to a 13-1 lead in the third set on a kill by senior Harper Kumpula. The Miners went on a five-point service run by Waterman who had an ace to put the Miners up 19-2. The Miners cruised to a 25-6 win in the set.
"We had a little bit of nerves coming into districts," Waterman said. "We got the tone set and our pace followed and we were able to get it rolling in that third set."
The Braves best work came in the second set where they jumped out to a 3-1 lead on a kill by senior Broklyn Lauscher to put the Braves up 3-1 but it was short-lived as the Miners scored 12 of the next 15 points to put the Miners up 13-6. Isla Engstrom led the way for the Miners with six kills and one ace. Lilia Mason also had six kills to go along with a pair of aces.
"Isla showed why she was Player of the Year," Miners coach Krista Squires said. "She was dominant tonight all over the court and really showed it during that third set and that was what got us rolling.
The Braves also battled well in the first set as they tied the set on five occasions the last one tied the game at nine before the Miners went on a five-point service run highlighted by a kill from Mason to put the Miners up 14-9. Mason had three of her six kills during that first set.
"I think we dug ourselves a hole and had a hard time getting out of it," Braves coach Kaitlyn Crow said. "That has been our achilles heel this season. We get down on ourselves, let some things affect us and it snowballs from there."
Negaunee will advance to the semifinals where they will fave Kingsford on the road tonight.