Westwood senior Sophia Balzarini, left, slaps hands with junior teammate Mollie Stille during a changeover in players in a high school volleyball match against Houghton at the Patriots’ gym on Thursday. (Journal photo by Travis Nelson)

ISHPEMING — Moral victories can always be taken away, and the Westwood High School volleyball team had that feeling despite falling in three sets to Houghton on Thursday night.

The Gremlins cruised to victory, 25-16, 25-9, 25-15. Patriots’ head coach Tamara Johnson didn’t view the match as a setback, but as another night that her team improved over the course of a long season. Overall, the coach was proud of how her team hung in there.

“Basically, I’m impressed with how my girls handled themselves,” Johnson said. “There were a few times that we kind of got into our heads and stuff like that, but they were able to shake it off and I’m happy with what I saw.

“We were getting touches on the ball, and that’s really all I can ask. We were in it the whole time, I was super proud of my girls.”

Johnson continued on saying that what she saw on the court is a sign that this young Patriots team with only two seniors is improving, she said. Optimistic coming in, Johnson said that her girls showed up to play.

Being able to translate these games to wins, however, will take time if Westwood’s hustle plays keep happening.

“We need to come every game with that much heart and that much effort and putting ourselves on the court, that’s all,” Johnson said.

The Westwood coach didn’t have her statistics available, while Houghton was led by seniors Micaela Geborkoff and Kricia Jenkins with 20 and 15 assists, respectively. Junior Bryn Lamppa had nine digs and senior Brina Kirkpatrick had six aces. Junior Gwen Markham led HHS with six kills, senior Olivia Merriman and junior Rachel Bigelow each added five, and junior Stella Wickstrom chimed in with four.

To Houghton head coach Blaine Zenner, that can be attributed to the talent on the roster as a whole.

“Taking advantage of the versatility we have on our team, we have 15 girls and I was able to get everybody in and some opportunity to play,” Zenner said. “I think that was one of our strong suits.”

It was only the Gremlins’ second match of the season, so there’s room for improvement this early, and the team’s still learning, Zenner added. In terms of the result of the match, it can be reflected in the work that Houghton has put in off the floor.

“I think it has a lot to say about what our girls have been doing in the gym, we’ve been working out in the weight room as well as running out on the track,” Zenner said. “So we’ve been putting in the time and it’s nice to see it pay off.”

Both teams will be in Gladstone today for the Gladstone Invite.

Travis Nelson can be reached by email at tnelson@miningjournal.net.