KINGSFORD - Experience won out in a Class B volleyball district final between Sault Ste. Marie and Kingsford here Friday night.

The Blue Devils' senior-laden lineup erased late deficits in sets three and four to claim a 25-15, 20-25, 26-24, 25-21 victory over the Flivvers.

"You have a sophomore out there and two or three juniors," Flivvers head coach Steve Andrews. "They just haven't been here. It's a tough environment to learn."

The Blue Devils, behind a match-high 18 kills from Katie Fitzpatrick and 16 by Lashonda Martin, rallied from a 23-18 hole in set three and a 20-16 margin in set four.

"This year we've played everything," Blue Devils head coach Andre Fortin said. "We've played with six, eight players, we've played with injuries. We've come back. We've won in three. We've been there. Seven seniors. Experience really plays a huge factor.

Flivvers proved they could match Sault Ste. Marie's level of play after answering a 25-15 set-one loss with a 25-20 showing in set two. Jaime Roberts (17 kills) and Catherine Benzie (15 kills) powered the Flivvers' attack.

"They play amazing floor defense," Fortin said of the Flivvers. "Relentless, amazing, fast and great. I can't compliment them enough. The best we've seen all year."

Set three was tied 13-13 before the Flivvers delivered a 10-5 punch, getting aces from Roberts, Kendall Tadych and Jaimee O'Dette. Roberts and O'Dette also supplied an effective block during the push.

But a couple of errors re-opened the door for the Soo, and multiple power slams by Fitzpatrick from the outside sent the set to the Blue Devils.

"We had them in the third game," Andrews said. "We didn't quit. We started playing not to lose. There's a difference between playing not to lose and playing to win. We played not to lose and we lost. You go up 2-1 and who knows."

In the final set it was Martin providing the knockout blow. The senior middle reeled off seven of the Blue Devils final eight points, notching six kills and one block while Kingsford stalled at 20 points.

"Credit the Soo and Lashonda," Andrews said. "They put the ball down in the end. We just couldn't get out of that rotation."

Roberts, Tadych, Jessica Zeni, Emmie Courter, Taylor Andrews and Becca Edwards saw their Flivver careers come to a close with the loss.

"They know they had an equal team, if not better," Andrews said. "They know we can beat them and we just didn't. But I'm proud of every one of them. I have no consolation for them right now. Nobody likes to lose, but unfortunately somebody has to."