Nov 8, 2025
The Manistique Emeralds pose for a photo after winning the distict three championship on Nov. 6, 2025 at Gwinn High School. (Adam Hinch/Daily Press)
GWINN — It was a fight to the finish here Thursday night as the Manistique Emeralds escaped with a 3-2 (25-15, 16-25, 25-20, 15-25, 15-11) volleyball triumph over the Gwinn Modeltowners for the Division 3 district title.
The Emeralds (18-11-3) will meet Painesdale Jeffers (10-12) or West Iron County (6-17) in a regional opener at Gwinn Tuesday at 6 p.m. The Modeltowners finished 11-14-2.
“That’s a special team,” Emeralds’ assistant coach Tim Nixon said about the Modeltowners. “We haven’t seen a team like that from year to year.”
The Emeralds took a 14-9 lead on a service ace by senior outside hitter Kyra Carlson, then committed service and hitting miscues, enabling the Modeltowners to shave their deficit to 14-11.
Gwinn then committed a hitting error of its own, enabling the Emeralds to earn their third straight championship.
“This one is absolutely the most satisfying,” Emeralds’ head coach Amy Nixon said. “We base our success on their will and determination. We went to five sets with Gwinn at Manistique. We knew this would be a battle. We were pretty dominant the last two years. This year we had to fight for it. We’re very proud of our team tonight. We had to fight for every single point.”
Gwinn took a 4-0 lead in the finale before an ace by junior defensive specialist Addie Irving brought Manistique within 4-2.
Junior Makayla Delmont provided the Modeltowners with a kill for a 5-2 cushion.
The teams followed with an exchange of service errors, but the Modeltowners remained in front 6-4.
A hitting miscue by the Emeralds enabled Gwinn to take a 8-5 lead.
Sophomore Kendyl Flodin followed with a six-point service run, helping Manistique gain an insurmountable 12-8 advantage.
“We tried our best,” Gwinn coach Jessica Stansky said. “I think their experience might have made a difference. It has been 11 years since we last won a district. I think the biggest thing we took away from tonight is the importance of not giving up. We worked real hard to build a passion for our program. We’re excited for next year.”
In the fourth set, the Emeralds were within 14-13 following a kill by Carlson.
Senior Kadence Ruggerio provided back-to-back kills for the Modeltowners, enabling them to take a 16-13 lead.
Manistique was still within 17-14 after a service error by the Modeltowners.
An ace by Ruggerio gave Gwinn a four-point lead, forcing the Emeralds to use a time-out.
The Emeralds then committed a trio of hitting miscues and a net net violation, enabling the Modeltowners to gain an insurmountable 22-14 advantage.
Manistique was down 12-7 following a hitting error in the third.
A kill by junior middle blocker Kaylynn McDougle gave the Emeralds a sideout.
Carlson then served for eight consecutive points, helping them surge to a 15-12 lead.
A kill by junior Adeline Derwin brought Gwinn within 16-15 and Modeltowners tied the score at 19 on a kill by Ruggerio.
Manistique took a 21-19 lead on a Modeltowners’ defensive error and back-to-back aces by senior right-side hitter Maya Carlson gave the Emeralds a four-point cushion.
A pair of hitting errors then foiled the Modeltowners, allowing the Emeralds to take that set.
The opener was tied at five before a kill by Maya Carlson gave Manistique a 6-5 lead.
A return error by Gwinn, allowed the Emeralds to take a 10-5 lead.
Ruggerio got a kill to bring Gwinn within four points.
The Emeralds extended their lead to 15-7 on a kill by Kyra Carlson before putting the first set out of reach.
Following a hitting miscue, Gwinn trailed in the second set before turning tables on the Emeralds.
Gwinn took a 16-10 lead on an Emeralds’ hitting error.
The Emeralds were trailing 18-13 after a kill by McDougle before the Modeltowners put that one away.
Kyra and Maya Carlson, Flodin, Sears and Irving served for two aces apiece.
Sears was the Emeralds’ leader at the net with 16 kills. McDougle added 10 and Kyra and Maya Carlson had six each.
Junior setter Ashlyn Jones collected 24 assists. Flodin tallied 27 digs and Kyra Carlson finished with 26.
“I think everyone really wanted it,” Kyra said. “Gwinn has come a long way this year. I think our experience of being in tough matches helps us out. We grew together as a team. We had our ups and downs and it took a while for us to figure it out.”
Delmont led the Modeltowners with 17 kills and three blocks. Ruggerio added eight kills and Derwin contributed seven. Junior setter Sammi Sales dished out 29 assists.
“Makayla had an ankle injury and couldn’t play last year,” Stansky said. “She really stepped up this year. Adeline is one of our strong left-side hitters and has become a fixture on the team.”
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