Hancock’s Emily L’Esperance sets up the ball for a Bulldog batter during Thursday’s game against the Houghton Gremlins in Hancock.
Written by Eddie O’Neill
eoneill@mininggazette.com
HANCOCK – It was a preview of sorts for the upcoming Copper Spikes, as the Hancock Bulldogs spiked the Houghton Gremlins on the volleyball court Thursday. They won a 3-0 sweep with scores of 25-23, 25-15, and 25-15.
As with any rivalry game, Hancock’s coach, Brina Lamper, knew what he was getting into.
“Horton has good hitters,” he said. “They couldn’t execute their offense because we kept the pressure on.”
That pressure started in the first set when Vida Brooks was on the line. She pushed the Bulldogs to a 5-1 advantage. Then, a big kill from senior hitter Brooke Koskela gave them a 7-point lead at 19-12.
“Brooke played a good game,” her coach said. “She had a lot of kills, but not a lot of mistakes.”
However, the Gremlins fought back and tied it at 23 points on Jaycee Sleeman’s line. However, the Bulldogs made it a race to 25 points.
In the second set, the Hancock girls again took an early lead. Sophie Freeman helped the Bulldogs go from a 6-3 lead to a 10-4 lead. They never looked back and won 25-15.
“I served really well tonight,” Lamper said. “We didn’t give them many points on serves or misplays.”
Houghton coach Blair Zenner acknowledged as much.
“We gave them too many free balls. We just ended up hitting the ball into the net at the service line.”
She added that Hannock served well and kept her daughters on the defensive.
That was certainly the case in the third set as the Bulldogs had the momentum. Reese Driscoll’s appearance turned a 7-3 Bulldogs lead into an 11-4 lead and an eventual 25-15 match point victory.
to the next
The Bulldogs are scheduled to welcome the Lance Purple Hornets to the gym Monday at 7 p.m., while the Gremlins head to Wrightstown, Wis., for a tournament this weekend.
Copperspike between these two teams is scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 24 at 7 p.m. in Houghton.
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