NEGAUNEE — The Negaunee varsity volleyball team recovered its momentum just in the nick of time as the Miners’ coach credited her players for their hustle and aggression in a five-set West PAC victory over traditional Upper Peninsula power Houghton at Lakeview Memorial Gymnasium in Negaunee on Thursday evening.

About 10 miles east in Marquette, the Redettes dropped the second set before taking the final two in a four-set victory over Great Northern Conference rival Kingsford.

Both teams return to action with conference matches on Thursday evening. The Miners travel to Gwinn for a West PAC/Mid-Peninsula Conference match, while Marquette hosts Escanaba in the GNC.

Here are details from Thursday’s action:

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Negaunee 3, Houghton 2

The Miners won the first two sets, then dropped the next two before turning it around in the decisive fifth set in a 25-14, 25-16, 21-25, 12-25, 15-8 victory. Houghton prevailed in the JV match in three sets, while the Negaunee freshmen swept in two.

“We had a great start to (Thursday night’s) match with good serving runs from Summer Dudo, Madi Smith, Josephine Thomson and Emily Gauthier,” Miners varsity head coach Krista Squiers said in an email. “That in conjunction with our hustle defense and aggressive play at the net really set the tone early.

“Natalie Bell had a great night at the net and rounded out the match with a clutch serving run in the fifth set. It was a great comeback learning experience for this squad against a solid Houghton team.”

Bell led the NHS offense with nine kills as she also had five blocks and a service ace. Teammate Eliana Juchemich was right behind her with eight kills, while the home team’s balanced attack also showed Mara Sorenson with seven kills, Tess Standerford five and Gauthier four.

Dudo was the serving and setting specialist, making six aces to go with 28 set assists and a block, while Gauthier added three assists and an ace, Sorenson two aces and Thomson five digs.

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Marquette 3, Kingsford 1

On Thursday at Marquette, the Redettes prevailed 25-13, 23-25, 25-14, 25-17 in a 3 1/2-hour match to improve to 15-5-1 overall and 2-0 in the GNC.

Seniors Seiler Hruska and Maria Millado dominated the Redettes’ offense as Hruska had a team-high 18 kills with just three errors and Millado 16 kills with two errors for a .483 attack percentage.

Millado also had team highs of seven blocks (five solo) and five aces while sharing the team lead with 20 digs. Hruska added four aces, 10 digs and a block.

“Tonight was a great night for the girls,” MSHS head coach Ann Crandell-Williams said in an email. “The second set was my fault; I was subbing too much and got the girls way off-kilter.

“Maria played very well both offensively and defensively, and Seiler made some excellent out-of-system swings. We learned some good lessons.

“Next we rest and then prepare for Escanaba next week.”

Marquette’s Roxy Nelson added eight kills and a tie for the team high with 20 digs; while Ella Jezewski tacked on four kills, nine digs and two aces; Arlie Kulbieda had three kills, three blocks and two digs; Katelyn Dunleavy 35 set assists, 11 digs and a block and ace; and Piper Lakenen six assists and three digs.

Information compiled by Journal Sports Editor Steve Brownlee. His email address is sbrownlee@miningjournal.net.