The next one wasn’t so close as Mid Peninsula cruised past host Superior Central in three, 25-11, 25-5, 25-20.

Sophomore Addie Christoff delivered the match-clinching kill for the Rockets, who face Mid Pen in tonight’s championship match at 7.

The finale was tied at nine before the Rockets took advantage of a few errors, including a serve receive miscue for a 13-9 lead. The teams then exchanged hitting errors, setting the stage for Christoff’s winning kill.

“This is a tough one to end the season, that’s for sure,” said Munising coach Josh Cole, a Gladstone graduate. “We definitely felt we had the momentum after the fourth set, but key mental errors hurt us.

Superior Central's Riley Johnson, second from left, blocks a shot from Mid Peninsula's Chevy Koski, left, as Mid Pen's Allyson Lancour, right, and Superior Central's Betty Jo Swajanen watch on Wednesday during an MHSAA Division 4 volleyball district tournament semifinal match played at Superior Central School in Eben. (Escanaba Daily Press photo by Justin St. Ours)

“We played Rapid River twice this year. Hats off to them tonight. They made a lot of hustle plays and helped themselves stay in the match.”

Rapid River led 24-21 in the fourth. The Mustangs then scored the next four points, taking a 25-24 lead on a service ace by senior Taylin Behning.

A kill by senior Kristin Goodacre pulled the Rockets even at 25-25 moments before the Mustangs secured that set on a two-hit violation.

Rapid River overcame an 8-2 deficit to take the third set and trailed by as much as 11-5 in the fourth.

Behning led Munising with nine kills, 17 digs and two aces. Senior Crystal Murdock added nine kills and four blocks and sophomore Jenna Matson had 27 digs.

In the nightcap, Mid Pen senior Elli Paulsen opened the second set with a six-point run and Camyrn Croasdell provided the Wolverines with a 13-point run, enabling them to gain a 20-2 advantage.

Superior Central led 9-3 in the third before senior Kennedy Englund’s kill through a double-block began to stem the tide for the Wolverines.

The Cougars took their last lead at 13-12 on a service error by the Wolverines.

That set was then tied four times before an ace by Croasdell sent the Wolverines ahead to stay at 20-19.

“In the third set, we were a little flat in the beginning,” Mid Pen coach Emily Kayser said. “As long as we don’t stop communicating, we’ll be fine. We had a lot of strong net play.”

Englund finished with 13 kills and a block. Karley Prater added five kills and Chevy Koski had four kills and one block.

“Their hitting was so good tonight,” Cougars coach Kris Bray said. “Their offense was on. Mid Pen’s a good team, we just couldn’t match up with them. I thought our seniors did well. Our girls did the best they could, it just wasn’t enough.”

Croasdell collected six aces and junior setter Daisy Englund had 20 assists for the Wolverines.

“Daisy is our little floor general,” said Kayser. “She sets up hitters real well for us.”