The opening set was tightly contested, with both sides trading points until the score was tied at 16. From there, Petoskey found their rhythm and pulled away to take the set 25-19.

Alpena responded with grit in the second set, staying composed in rallies and finishing strong to edge out the Northmen 25-22, evening the match at one set apiece.

The third set once again showcased how evenly matched the two teams were. The Wildcats stayed within striking distance throughout, but Petoskey capitalized on a few key plays late to win 25-20.

In the fourth and final set, the Northmen took control early and never looked back, closing the match with a decisive 25-9 victory.

Courtesy Photo/Lisa VanHorn Alpena Wildcat Kaila Girard gets some air time on a spike in Thursday's home match against Petoskey.

While the score line tilted Petoskey’s way, the night featured extended rallies, defensive hustle, and stretches of strong play from the Wildcats that kept the crowd engaged.

Alpena will look to regroup and carry their competitive energy forward as they return to action at home on Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. against Traverse City Central.