News Photo by Leslianne Johns Rocky Miller prepares to bump the ball on Wednesday at Alpena Community College.

ALPENA — The Alpena Community College Lumberjacks battled through five intense sets on Wednesday night to earn a hard-fought victory over the North Central Michigan College Timberwolves, 3-2. The match showcased determination, smart play, and clutch performances across the board as Alpena continued to find its rhythm late in the season.

The Lumberjacks came out strong in the opening set, maintaining a steady lead with confident hitting and solid defensive communication. Although North Central surged late to even the score, Alpena stayed composed and closed out the set 26-24. Their mix of strong serves and deceptive fakes kept the Timberwolves on their heels throughout.

The second set was a tug-of-war, with both teams exchanging leads multiple times. The Timberwolves found their rhythm midway through the frame, capitalizing on a few Alpena miscues to edge out a 25-22 win. Despite the loss, Alpena showed resilience — rallying from behind to tie the score and force North Central into a late timeout.

North Central’s momentum carried into the third set, where their aggressive front-row play and heavy spikes helped them take control. Alpena’s decision-making on out-of-bounds calls earned them key points, but the Timberwolves’ consistency proved too much as they claimed the set 25-15.

Facing elimination, the Lumberjacks regrouped in the fourth set. With sharper defense and renewed energy, they took charge and won 25-20 to force a decisive fifth. The final set came down to grit and composure — both teams trading points before Alpena ultimately sealed the win 15-13, igniting cheers from the home crowd.

Sophomore Brook Latuszek led the offense with 19 kills and added 11 digs, providing leadership at critical moments. Rocky Miller added 13 kills and 19 digs, showing balance on both sides of the ball. Maddi Sladek directed the attack with 28 assists, along with 10 digs and 2 aces, while Paige Moldenhauer anchored the defense with 26 digs. At the net, Alivia Freel contributed 8 kills and 4 key blocks that helped swing momentum in Alpena’s favor.

With the 26-24, 22-25, 15-25, 25-20, 15-13 victory, Alpena demonstrated their resilience and teamwork against a tough opponent. The Lumberjacks look to build on this performance as they prepare for their next matchup.