Lumberjacks Show Fight in Five-Set Battle Against Henry Ford

By Leslianne Johns, ACC Sportswriter

ALPENA — The Alpena Community College Lumberjacks women's volleyball team took the court against the Henry Ford Community College Hawks in a competitive matchup that ultimately ended in a five-set sweep for the Hawks.

The opening set was a back-and-forth contest, with both teams trading leads and creating plenty of energy on the floor. Despite the Lumberjacks' efforts to keep momentum on their side, the Hawks secured the set and carried their advantage through the rest of the match.

While the scoreboard didn't fall in Alpena's favor, the Lumberjacks continued to battle across all five sets. The team showed grit and determination in every rally, refusing to back down against a strong opponent. Each set revealed areas of growth for the roster, as the team works to sharpen communication and build chemistry on the court.

"We are proud of the battle to five sets, but are looking forward to matching up with this team again later in this season," coach Courtney Holmes said.

Standout performances included Reaghan Fitzpatrick, who was a dominant presence throughout the match, and Alivia Freel, whose consistency and effort made her a key contributor.

"Even though we didn't play our best volleyball today, we fought hard through every set," Fitzpatrick said. "I think that we learned a lot from this match about not letting outside factors affect us in the game. We will take these lessons with us into our future matches."

She added, "During tough matches we try to focus on celebrating the small positives and getting excited for every point," highlighting the team's resilience and mindset despite the loss. On a personal level, Fitzpatrick shared, "A personal goal that I have for this season is to learn how to move on quickly from mistakes and not let them affect the rest of my game."

Maddie Sladek led the way offensively with 35 assists, Raquelle Miller's 10 kills and Brook Latuszek and Freel who added eight each.

Defensively, Freel led all blockers with six while Latuszek added five. Miller and Paige Moldenhauer were strong with 10 digs each. Latuszek also had a good day from behind the service line with four aces.

For a developing roster, each contest serves as another step in building toward future success. Despite the sweep, Alpena's determination and resilience were clear. The Lumberjacks remain focused on progress, turning tough lessons into opportunities for growth as they look ahead to the rest of the season.

The Lumberjacks (1-1) travel to face Alma College at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 3.