Ishpeming’s Mya Hemmer, left, soars to the top of the net for a huge kill over Iron Mountain defender Lucy Baumgartner, right, during their Mid-Peninsula Confernece and West PAC match played at the Mountaineers’ gym in Iron Mountain on Sept. 4. (Photo courtesy Terry Raiche)

NEGAUNEE — In the rough-and-tumble world of West PAC volleyball, it was quite an achievement for Marquette County schools to win two of the league’s major awards this fall.

It’s usually so rough and tumble because one of more Copper Country schools — whether it’s Calumet, Houghton or Hancock — are so dominant that they have a good chance of reaching deep into the MHSAA tournament.

That’s probably also true this year, since it was Calumet and Hancock that shared the league title.

But Ishpeming senior middle hitter Mya Hemmer was still able to claim the Player of the Year award.

And Negaunee veteran coach Krista Squiers earned the Coach of the Year honor.

A Copper Country school, notably non-champion Houghton, claimed the conference’s other major award, Defensive Specialist of the Year, which went to Houghton senior libero Emmy Pietila.

Houghton County schools claimed the majority of the places on the West PAC First Team and Second Team, but there still was enough room for a half-dozen Marquette County players to find a place at the table, not even including Hemmer.

Making the First Team were a trio of Marquette County juniors, Ishpeming setter Marie Salisbury, along with Negaunee outside hitter Isla Engstrom and libero Izzy Francisco.

On the Second Team again were two Miners and one Hematite. They are senior setter Aleana Park and junior middle hitter Gretel Johnson of Negaunee, and senior outside hitter Jenessa Eagle of Ishpeming.

Here are the balance of First and Second Team honorees, listed with year, position and school:

First Team — Jess Anderson, jr. libero, Calumet; Mia Nordstrom, sr. outside hitter, Jeffers; Chloe Coppo, jr. right-side hitter, Calumet; Ellie Hainault, jr. middle, Houghton; Azura Aho, soph. outside hitter, Hancock; Romey Koskela, soph. outside hitter, Hancock; Chloe Bastian, jr. libero, Hancock

Second Team — Millie Loukus, jr. setter, Calumet; Vaeda Brooks, soph. right-side hitter, Hancock; Claire Johnson sr., outside/right-side hitter, Houghton; Amiina Tarnowski, sr. middle hitter, Calumet; Kylee Andrews, jr. outside hitter, Jeffers; Alice Larson, sr. setter, Hancock; Alyssa Northey, jr. setter, Houghton

Story contents based on email received from Negaunee High School athletic director Jake Skewis. Journal Sports Editor Steve Brownlee’s email address is sbrownlee@miningjournal.net.