This story was written by Bay College SID Mike Pankow

ESCANABA---The Bay College Volleyball Team (3-8, 1-0 MCCAA) began conference play at home on Tuesday and came out on top of the Montcalm Centurions (4-7, 0-2 MCCAA) in three sets. Each set was tight, with the Norse winning by scores of 26-24, 28-26, and 26-24.

Montcalm had the early advantage in set one, forcing Bay to fight from behind multiple times.  Things started clicking for the Norse offense late as Piper Monroe (SO, Menominee, MI) led the charge with six kills in the opening round, helping her team take a 23-21 lead late.

The Centurions turned the tables momentarily and gave themselves a chance with a serve for set-point.  The Norse were able to get the side out and regain control.  Mia Hauser (FR, Wallace, MI) sealed the win with an ace from the serving line.

The second set turned into a back and forth between the two teams, with neither team able to pull away.  Bay rode the hot hand of Monroe who connected on seven kills, while Olyvia Saxton (SO, Ithaca, MI) and Addie Morton (FR, Ishpeming, MI) each added three apiece.

The Norse once again saw a late lead slip away.  The Centurions were faced with a 23-21 deficit and stepped up the pressure.  Piper Groesser (SO, Portland, MI) scored with a blistering kill, and Maia Sexton (SO, Sidney, MI) connected on a kill and followed that with a big block on the next point, setting up set-point for Montcalm.

After a timeout, the Norse were able to set up multiple attacks during the next point and got one home as Monroe powered an attempt through the block attempt from Sexton, tying the set at 24.  Montcalm responded as Sexton struck again.  This time she used some touch to find a hole just past the Norse front line, giving her team their second chance at set-point.

Bay responded, and once again went to Monroe for the kill, which she executed beautifully.

They then followed that with a back row kill from Hauser that stayed just inside the end line. 

After the Centurions tied it at 26 a costly service error set the Norse up to finish the set.  Jade Jasenovsky (FR, Menominee, MI) was on the service line and while the Centurions were able to handle it, they were also not able to set up a strong attack because of that serve, causing a misfire into the net, giving the Norse the win in set two.

The third set remained tight, but it was Montcalm who led for most of it.  For the fourth time of the night, the Centurions had the serve and a chance to win the set but were rebuked by Bay. 

This time it was a long volley that ended with a kill attempt by Saxton of the Norse.. Her shot was dug out nicely by Groesser, but the ensuing pass was off the mark and causing the kill attempt to be errant.  Riley Moore (SO, Chatham, MI) followed that with a serving ace, setting up the final set-point for the Norse.  After several strong kill attempts were dug out, Hauser was able to end the long volley with a cross court kill that could not be handled.

The Norse wound up with a hard-fought 3-0 victory to start the conference season.

Monroe led the charge for Bay with 15 kills in 21 attempts (.571 attack percentage).  She also ended up with six total blocks.  Hauser picked up five kills and had 11 digs, while Saxton ended with four digs.  Jasenovsky had 22 digs. 

Groesser and Sexton led the Centurions with six kills apiece.

Earlier in the day the Norse found out they swept the weekly conference awards.  Piper Monroe was named the MCCAA Northern Conference Player of the Week last week.  In matches with St. Claire-Windsor and Oakland Community College she recorded 20 kills with a .586 hitting percentage.  She also tallied 15 total blocks.  It was the second time Monroe was named as player of the week. 

Jade Jasenovsky was named the MCCAA Northern Conference Defensive Player of the Week as well.  She picked up 40 digs (5.0 digs per set) and had a receiving percentage of 93.0% during those same matches.  It was the second time Jasenovsky picked up that honor this season.