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Worth a road trip: Marquette Sentinels volleyball team sweeps at Gwinn

The Marquette bench jumps up with excitement as the Sentinels win a point late in the third set of a high school volleyball match played against Gwinn at Gwinn High School on Tuesday. (Journal photo by Caden Sierra)

Up next: Marquette travels to U.P. No. 1 Calumet, 6:30 p.m. today; Gwinn will be at the Escanaba Invitational, Saturday morning

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GWINN — Marquette made the relatively short road trip to Gwinn and came away with a three-set sweep in a high school volleyball match on Tuesday night.

The Sentinels evened their record at 5-5 while the Modeltowners fell to 1-11-1 after MSHS prevailed 25-8, 25-12, 25-9.

Marquette head coach

Melissa Butler praised her young squad, which features four sophomore in key roles.

Gwinn head coach Jessica Stansky, center right in gray, talks to the Modeltowners players during a timeout in the first set of a high school volleyball match played against Marquette at Gwinn High School on Tuesday. (Journal photo by Caden Sierra)

“I love their spirit and how well they work together,” she said. “My message at every match is always the same and very simple, regardless of a loss or win — learn from mistakes or grow from achievements.

“The (match) was a good win for (us), with some highs and lows. We’re still working on some key fundamentals, but the entire team is moving in the right direction…. Areas of improvement include serve receive, court awareness and reading the opponent.”

The Sentinels wasted no time establishing their dominance, jumping to a quick 5-1 lead in the first set. Despite a brief pushback from Gwinn, which managed to close the deficit to 7-5, Marquette responded with five unanswered points to extend its lead to 11-5. A Modeltowners timeout wouldn’t stop the Sentinels’ momentum as Marquette’s offense continued to fire on all cylinders.

In the second set, Gwinn stayed in it early with it tied 5-5. Then the Sentinels quickly gained control, with three points in a row making it 8-5 and prompting another Modeltowners’ timeout. But Marquette continued to dominate with a strong offense, extending its lead to 14-6 and 18-7.

Though Gwinn briefly cut the deficit to 22-12, an out-of-bounds serve halted that momentum as Marquette closed out the set.

Marquette’s Grace Filizetti follows through on a spike to win a point for her team in the second set of a high school volleyball match played against Gwinn at Gwinn High School on Tuesday. (Journal photo by Caden Sierra)

Gwinn again started the third set with energy, keeping it tied at 4-4 and 5-5. But Marquette found its footing soon after, racing to a 13-6 advantage which grew to 18-9. The final seven points belonged to the Sentinels to close out the match.

MSHS hardly has time to enjoy the win, as it travels today to Upper Peninsula Divisions 1-3 No. 1 Calumet for a match at 6:30 p.m. Gwinn is scheduled to participate in the Escanaba Invitational on Saturday morning.

Both teams also have home matches on Tuesday, Marquette hosting Gladstone at 6:30 p.m. and Gwinn entertaining Hancock at 6:45 p.m.

Caden Sierra can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 551. His email address is csierra@nmu.edu.

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