KINGSFORD — Seiler Hruska and Maria Millado showed their senior leadership, dominating statistically in a three-set sweep by the Marquette Senior High School volleyball team at Kingsford on Thursday evening.

The Redettes prevailed 25-13, 25-15, 25-16 to improve to 31-5-1 overall and 7-0 in the Great Northern Conference. Marquette’s JV won in three sets, while the Kingsford freshmen prevailed in three sets, too.

Against Kingsford, Hruska and Millado went 1-2 for their team in kills, service aces and digs.

Hruska made 17 kills, and with just two errors, had a .441 attack percentage. She also added four aces and seven digs. Redettes head coach Ann Crandell-Williams said that puts her just two short of 1,000 career digs with another week of the regular season left.

Millado had eight aces, nine digs, two blocks and five kills with an attack percentage of .400.

“The team came out fired up and took control of the match from the service line,” Crandell-Williams said. “Kingsford fought hard but the power of our serving and offense was too strong.

“It is always hard to go into Kingsford because they have such a rowdy crowd. We had a great effort from the entire lineup.”

Kingsford coach Jaclynn Kreider also credited Marquette’s serving as a key.

“We struggled to get our offense running,” Kreider said. “Marquette’s serving proved to be too much for us. We did not pass well out of serve-receive, and therefore found ourselves always on the defensive side of the ball.”

Several other Marquette players also had significant stats. Roxy Nelson matched Hruska in digs with seven, adding two kills and an ace, while Arlie Kulbieda had three kills and two blocks and Katelyn Dunleavy all 26 of the team’s set assists along with four digs.

The Flivvers’ attack was led by Abby Terrian with six kills.

Marquette was scheduled to host Calumet and Bark River-Harris in a triple dual today, then completes its GNC campaign and regular season with a match at Escanaba on Tuesday.

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Houghton sweeps Hematites

On Thursday at Ishpeming, the powerhouse Gremlins won 25-13, 25-20, 25-21.

Olivia Corp led the Hematites offense with seven kills while making four digs and a block.

Teammate Hannah Deloughary led the defensive effort with 17 digs and had a service ace, while Megan Racine had five kills and three digs and Madison McNab made seven digs, four kills and had an ace.

Ishpeming’s Emily Morton also had seven digs to go with six set assists, three aces and a kill; Abbi Bruhnke had 12 assists and six digs; and Abby Koski had three kills, two digs and an ace. Faith Loman also had two digs, two kills and a block.

The Hematites are scheduled to host Gwinn at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday.

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Negaunee flies high

During the past week, Negaunee tasted success, winning four out of five matches at the West PAC tournament and WIN meet.

The Miners defeated Iron Mountain and Gwinn in two sets while falling to Calumet in two sets at the West PAC on Saturday, then swept the WIN meet in two-set victories over both Ishpeming and Westwood on Tuesday.

At the West PAC tourney, Negaunee defeated IM 25-21, 25-19 and Gwinn 25-11, 26-24 before the Mountaineers dispatched the Miners 25-12, 25-16.

“After a long (previous) week, I think the girls really stepped up during this tournament,” NHS head coach Krista Squiers said. “We kept our serving and passing in control and were able to stay aggressive at the net.

“No game is a guarantee in a tournament such as this, so we had to remain focused on the little things that impact our play the most and keep battling as we advanced through the bracket.”

Natalie Bell led the Negaunee attack with 15 kills as she added nine digs, while Raquel Carlson added a big assist on the front line with 12 kills and four blocks.

In addition, Emily Gauthier filled the stats sheet with nine kills, 11 digs, four service aces and four set assists, while Summer Dudo was the main setter with 35 assists and 16 digs.

Then at the WIN meet, the Miners prevailed over Ishpeming 25-12, 25-18 and downed Westwood 25-10, 25-15.

“The WIN Invite is always such a fun night for our teams,” Squiers said. “I was really proud of our first-set play in both matches and was glad to see a lot of hustle in our coverage at the net.

“We’re at the point in the season where we are starting to see solid, comfortable play on the court, and as we approach districts that’ll be key to keeping our cool in tough games.”

Bell had nine kills and four aces, while Carlson added five kills and a block and Tessa Standerford had four kills.

Dudo made 16 assists, Gauthier five aces and two assists and Madison Gendron three aces.

Negaunee returns to action Tuesday night with a home match against Gladstone.

Information compiled by Journal Sports Editor Steve Brownlee with contributions from the Iron Mountain Daily News. Brownlee’s email address is sbrownlee@miningjournal.net.