HARRIS — The Bark River-Harris gym was rocking here Tuesday night as Escanaba and the hometown Broncos went the distance in a non-conference volleyball match.

When all was said and done it was Esky, much to the delight of its fans, which rallied past BR-H 3-2 (18-25, 18-25, 25-15, 25-21, 15-11).

“I just loved this crowd,” said Esky coach Adam Lambert. “The fans were really into it, and we had a good amount of people here. I really enjoyed this atmosphere. It was an exciting match.”

The Eskymos were clinging to a 12-11 lead following a four-hit violation in the finale.

Junior Mari Bink then pushed the ball over the net for a kill and sideout, giving Esky a two-point cushion.

A service ace by freshman Grayson LaMarche made it 14-11, and the Eskymos secured the decision on a hitting error by the Broncos.

“This is the first time our girls were in this situation, and I think the experience helped them,” said BR-H assistant coach Jason Lockwood. “I truly believe this experience is going to pay off. Hopefully, it will in the (Division 3) district.”

BR-H was within 8-7 following an Esky passing error. The Broncos then committed two passing miscues, followed by a defensive error and four-hit violation and trailed 12-7.

“This match was a lot of fun, and the atmosphere made it fun,” said Broncos’ head coach Jen Ives. “This kind of took your mind off COVID for a while. One of the things we told the girls is, ‘you can walk off the court with your head held high.’ Overall, I was happy with the effort.”

BR-H gained a 20-13 advantage on a block by junior Kay-Lee Red Bear in the fourth set.

The Eskymos then got a sideout on a Broncos’ service error, and a kill by junior Katelyn Stalboerger brought them within 20-16.

A net violation by the Eskymos enabled BR-H to get a sideout and 21-17 lead.

Back-to-back kills by LaMarche brought Esky within two points. Sophomore Mara Liss added a kill and a block by LaMarche tied the score.

Two straight kills by junior Bailey Barron gave the Eskymos a 23-21 lead, and a pair of BR-H passing errors ended that set.

“This is not the first time we went five sets this year,” said Lambert. “Although, I got a little nervous in the fourth set. Our crowd got pretty quiet. It took us quite a while to get going tonight. Our serves weren’t going down, and we weren’t jelling. I have a lot of respect for coach Jen. They’re coming to our tournament Saturday, and they’re going to come over hungry. I’m sure they’ll want to play us again.”

The Broncos, behind an eight-point service run by junior Carley Varoni, gained a 21-15 lead in the opener and back-to-back kills by senior Tressa Ives gave them an insurmountable 24-17 advantage.

Liss provided the Eskymos with a seven-point run in the second set, which included a kill by sophomore Mara Liss for a 17-12 lead.

Following a sideout, senior Alaska Peterson served for 11 consecutive points as the Broncos again gained a 24-17 advantage.

A six-point run by Barron helped Esky build a 16-6 cushion in the third.

BR-H trimmed its deficit to 21-14 on an Esky passing error before a kill and ace by Stalboerger put the Eskymos up 23-14.

The Eskymos then committed a service error but closed out that set on passing and hitting miscues by the Broncos.

Stalboeger finished with 18 kills, two blocks and 11 digs. Whitson tallied 13 kills. Barron added 12 kills and 12 digs. LaMarche had 11 kills and three blocks, and Bink collected six kills, 21 assists and 13 digs and senior Abigail Rexford had 13 digs.

Varoni tallied seven aces, seven kills and nine assists. Peterson collected four aces, four kills, nine assists and eight digs. Senior Cara Zawacki added eight kills and two blocks, and Tressa Ives had five kills and 12 digs.

“This was a last-minute addition to our schedule,” said coach Ives. “We wanted to play up and really believed we could win. I think maybe the jitters got us in the end. This is one of those matches you’re disappointed to lose, but a lot of positives came out of this.”

BR-H, which won the JV match in two sets, visits Stephenson today. Esky hosts its Elks Invitational tournament Saturday.

Escanaba — Stalboerger (four aces, 18 kills, two blocks, 11 digs); Barron (two aces, 12 kills, 12 digs); LaMarche (two aces, 11 kills, three blocks); Liss (two aces, two kills, 16 assists, seven digs); Whitson (one ace, 13 kills); Bink (six kills, 21 assists, 13 digs); Rexford (13 digs); Boosamra (eight digs).

Bark River-Harris — C. Varoni (seven aces, seven kills, one block, nine assists, four digs); Fredrick (five aces, six kills, four blocks, two digs); Peterson (four aces, four kills, nine assists, eight digs); Ives (two aces, five kills, 12 digs); Zawacki (eight kills, two blocks, four digs); LeBoeuf (two kills, two blocks, two digs); Red Bear (one kill, one block); Arndt (four digs); G. Varoni (five digs); Boney (three digs); LaBay (two digs).