Kingsford Flivvers Win 'Rock' Volleyball Invitational

GLADSTONE---The Kingsford High School volleyball team ran the table Saturday at the Gladstone 'Rock' Invitational. The Flivvers went a perfect 4-0 in pool play, and then beat Gladstone and Hancock in bracket play to take the trophy.

Houghton was the defending champion of this tournament, which was last held two years ago.

Last fall, a set of basketball rums would not rise to the ceiling, and so the tournament was reduced to four teams...three from Delta County and Pickford. Pickford won that mini-tournament, jokingly called the "Purple Pebble".

Houghton held onto the Rock trophy, but now will have to give it up to its arch rivals from Hancock.

Houghton went a perfect 4-0 in pool play, as did Kingsford. Hancock finished second in its pool with a 2-1-1 record.

Gladstone also went 2-1-1 in its pool to make the semifinals.

In the Final Four, Hancock dominated Houghton in the first set, 25-12, and then took the match, 25-22, in the second set. On the other court, Kingsford overwhelmed Gladstone in two sets, 25-9 and 25-16. Kingsford won the title, 25-20 and 25-22.

It was a mixed bag for Delta County's local teams.

The Escanaba Eskymos lost a pair of tight sets to Kingsford (22-25, 22-25) to start the day, and then the Eskymos swept a good Gwinn team (25-20, 25-22). Escanaba's chances of advancing to the semifinals were killed when the girls lost a tough match to Hancock, including a 26-24 decision in the first set. Escanaba later split with Rapid River.

For Rapid River, that final set win over Escanaba was its only set win of the day.

Gladstone beat Norway to start the day (28-26, 25-18), and had Houghton on the ropes before losing the first set, 26-24, and then the Braves dropped the second set to the Gremlins.

Gladstone clinched a spot in the semifinals with a win over Westwood.

A fourth Delta County-based team joined this tournament for the first time. It was a travel team calling itself the Summit. It was a young team, with a pair of 13-year-olds on the roster. Those girls managed to tie matches against Norway and Gladstone.

All of the scores from Saturday's tournament are posted below. Also, click the thumbnails in the ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS box to see photos and videos.

2015 GLADSTONE "ROCK" INVITATIONAL SCOREBOARD

White Pool Play Round-Robin Results
Kingsford 2, Escanaba 0 (25-22, 25-22)
Gwinn 2, Rapid River 0 (25-10, 25-16)
Kingsford 2, Hancock 0 (25-23, 25-18)
Escanaba 2, Gwinn 0 (25-20, 25-22)
Hancock 2, Rapid River 0 (25-19, 25-17)

Hancock 2, Escanaba 0 (26-24, 25-17)
Kingsford 2, Rapid River 0 (25-20, 25-12)
Gwinn 1, Hancock 1 (25-16, 21-25)
Escanaba 1, Rapid River 1 (25-20, 20-25)
Kingsford 2, Gwinn 0 (25-12, 25-16)

Purple Pool Play Round-R0bin Results
Gladstone 2, Norway 0 (28-26, 25-18)
Westwood 2, Summit 0 (25-19, 26-24)
Houghton 2, Gladstone 0 (26-24, 25-17)
Summit 1, Norway 1 (20-25, 25-22)
Houghton 2, Westwood 0 (25-10, 25-17)

Houghton 2, Norway 0 (25-20, 25-18)
Gladstone 2, Westwood 0 (25-20, 25-18)
Houghton 2, Summit 0 (25-19, 25-14)
Westwood 1, Norway 1 (25-23, 21-25)
Summit 1, Gladstone 1 (25-22, 18-25)

Tournament Semifinals (Best 2 of 3)
Kingsford 2, Gladstone 0 (25-9, 25-16)
Hancock 2, Houghton 0 (25-12, 25-22)

Tournament Championship (Best 2 of 3)
Kingsford 2, Hancock 0 (25-20, 25-22)