Negaunee’s Natalie Bell hits the ball over during a high school volleyball match played at Houghton on Thursday. (Houghton Daily Mining Gazette photo by Adam Niemi)

HOUGHTON — It was a back-and-forth battle for most of Thursday night between Negaunee and Houghton on the Gremlins’ volleyball court.

While the Miners had moments of strong play on both sides of the net, it was the Gremlins who came out on top winning in three straight sets, 25-20, 25-13, 25-18, in their West PAC high school match.

“It was fun to watch and fun to be a part of,” said Gremlins head coach John Christianson, who is in his 31st year at Houghton and has been the program’s only coach in its history. “I thought we did really well.”

Early on in the first set, senior Maryellen Trewhella got things going for Houghton (3-0) with a big kill to put her team up 3-0. It was the first of 10 kills for her. She also had three service aces and 11 digs.

Negaunee (2-2) came back to tie it 6-6 before the Gremlins sped ahead 10-6. They would keeps leads like that for most of the rest of the night. While the Miners would come within one at 15-14 with Natalie Bell on the serving line, it would be the best they could do in the first set.

“We have been putting a lot of focus on decision-making,” Christianson said. “The girls are asking themselves, ‘What am a going to do with the ball? What is the smart play for me to keep the ball in play so later on we can finish it?'”

Gremlin junior Olivia Merriman knew what to do as she stepped to the line to start the second set. She hit an ace and her squad was off the a 3-1 lead. Then the Miners scored three straight points for their first lead of the night, 4-3. That was short-lived, however, as the Gremlins jumped back ahead 8-4 and cruised for the rest of the set.

“It felt like so many games within one match,” Negaunee head coach Sarah MacDonald said. “There were different times when we were on it and then we couldn’t put two points together.”

The Miners did put together their biggest lead early in the third set, jumping out to an 8-5 lead. With senior Katrina Symons at the line, the Miners made it 13-10. But Houghton struck quickly once again, tying it 14-14 and never looking back.

Despite having to wear masks at practices and on the court in the age of COVID-19, both coaches said they and their teams are just happy to be having these matches.

“We are thankful to have a season,” MacDonald said. “The mask is tricky for some of the girls. It is an adjustment, but we are all in this together.”