ESCANABA, MI – The Norse Volleyball Team (13-11, 6-6 MCCAA) finished off the regular season with a match against Alpena Community College (4-16, 2-10 MCCAA), picking up a 3-1 victory. The scores were 25-21, 26-28, 25-21, and 25-21. Bay will go into the postseason as the four seed from the North and matchup with Kellogg Community College in the play-in match of the 2025 Great Lakes District A Championship.
Neither team really took control in the first set as they battled back and forth. The Norse were more were able to hold off the Lumberjacks, despite Alpena having a more efficient attack in the first set. That would not be the case in the second set however as the Lumberjacks stormed from behind to even the match at one set a piece.
Bay led by double-digits in the third set and were able to weather the storm from Alpena in set number three and sealed the deal in the fourth and final set to take the match three sets to one.
Bay used their defense to help them stay in the match, picking up 95 digs on the evening. They would more than double their opponents in serving aces, picking up 15 while Alpena had just seven.
Ava Maki (FR, Marquette, MI) was the offensive leader for Bay, picking up 12 kills. Haylee Gatien (FR, Powers, MI) and Addie Morton (SO, Ishpeming, MI) contributed with nine kills apiece. Hope Varoni (FR, Bark River, MI) had 34 assists.
Defensively it was Jade Jasenovsky (SO, Menominee, MI) setting the pace once again with 24 digs. She also had four serving aces. Hilarie Porcaro (SO, Sault Ste. Marie, MI) had 18 digs, while Varoni was credited with 17. Mia Hauser (SO, Wallace, MI) had 15 digs.
It was a successful night off the court as well for the Norse. They hosted their annual pink out game. The Norse players and coaching staff organized a bake sale and raffle that raised money for a local family affected by cancer.
The Norse were also scoreboard watching but did not get help. The North Central Michigan College Timberwolves defeated the Montcalm Community College 3-0 to seal the third seed from the North, forcing Bay into a play-in game as the four seed.
Bay will face Kellogg Community College who finished 8-4 in the Western Division of the MCCAA. The Bruins had an overall record of 16-12. KCC did face some Northern Division opponents, including a 3-1 win over Montcalm, a 3-0 loss at Grand Rapids, a 3-1 loss at Muskegon Community College, and a 3-0 win over Alpena. Glen Oaks is the only other common opponent between the two, and the Bruins beat them 3-1 and 3-0.
Bay faced Glen Oaks in the opening weekend tournament 3-2. The Norse beat Montcalm 3-0 and 3-1, lost to Grand Rapids 3-0 and 3-1, lost to Muskegon 3-0 and 3-1, and beat Alpena 3-0 and 3-1.
The play-in match between Bay and Kellogg will be on Wednesday at 4 pm at Grand Rapids Community College's Gerald R. Ford Fieldhouse.