ESCANABA---The Gladstone Braves won a multi-team volleyball tournament on the road for the second time this season Saturday, taking the trophy from the Escanaba Elks Invitational with a 2-1 win over Marquette in the championship match.
Gladstone also won the trophy at the Marquette Articatz Tournament in September.
"I think this is the first time that we've ever doubled up (won two) on tournaments," Gladstone Coach Liz Gendron said. "We played well off the system. Our hitters were hitting aggressively, we were changing it up. They're using their heads more, they're using their knowledge of the game more."
This weekend, the Braves traveled ten miles down the highway to play in the eight-team Eskymo tournament.
In Pool Play, Gladstone tied Rudyard, 1-1, and then tied Marquette, 1-1. The Braves then beat Negaunee, 2-0, to advance to the semifinals.
In the final four, Gladstone beat the host Eskymos, 2-0, by scores of 25-12 and 25-19.
In the other semifinal, Marquette topped Ishpeming, 2-1 (25-15, 18-25, 15-10).
That set up a Gladstone-Marquette championship match. The Braves won the first game, 25-21, but the Redettes rallied to win the second game, 25-20.
In the deciding game, the Braves jumped to a 7-3 lead and won, 15-10.
"I thought our middles made their (Marquette's middle-blocker) change her shots," Gendron said. "That helped our defense."
ESKYMOS SETTLE FOR THIRD---The Escanaba Eskymos advanced out of pool play Saturday with 2-0 wins over Westwood and Manistique, before losing to Ishpeming, 2-0. The Eskymos then lost to Gladstone in the semifinals.
Eskymo Coach Theresa Heidt was happy with what she saw from her team. "Our spirits were up most of the day," Heidt said. "I think we played better than usual. Our hitting was on, our serving was on. I was very proud of the girls." Heidt says that hosting this tournament is special for the girls.
"We look forward to this tournament all year long," Heidt said. "We'd like to have a medal or a trophy, but we played our hearts out, and that's all I expect out of my girls."
NEXT UP: The Eskymos and Braves face each other in the annual Breast Cancer Awareness Match Tuesday night in Gladstone. The varsity match starts at 7:00.
Click the thumbnails in the ARTICLE HIGHLIGHT box above to see photos, and videos from the final match, taken by Jared Hunter.
Gladstone also won the trophy at the Marquette Articatz Tournament in September.
This weekend, the Braves traveled ten miles down the highway to play in the eight-team Eskymo tournament.
In Pool Play, Gladstone tied Rudyard, 1-1, and then tied Marquette, 1-1. The Braves then beat Negaunee, 2-0, to advance to the semifinals.
In the final four, Gladstone beat the host Eskymos, 2-0, by scores of 25-12 and 25-19.
In the other semifinal, Marquette topped Ishpeming, 2-1 (25-15, 18-25, 15-10).
Braves Coach Liz Gendron
In the deciding game, the Braves jumped to a 7-3 lead and won, 15-10.
"I thought our middles made their (Marquette's middle-blocker) change her shots," Gendron said. "That helped our defense."
ESKYMOS SETTLE FOR THIRD---The Escanaba Eskymos advanced out of pool play Saturday with 2-0 wins over Westwood and Manistique, before losing to Ishpeming, 2-0. The Eskymos then lost to Gladstone in the semifinals.
Eskymo Coach Theresa Heidt comments.
"We look forward to this tournament all year long," Heidt said. "We'd like to have a medal or a trophy, but we played our hearts out, and that's all I expect out of my girls."
NEXT UP: The Eskymos and Braves face each other in the annual Breast Cancer Awareness Match Tuesday night in Gladstone. The varsity match starts at 7:00.
Click the thumbnails in the ARTICLE HIGHLIGHT box above to see photos, and videos from the final match, taken by Jared Hunter.
