Forest Park junior Ava Fischer (7) attempts to make a play at the net during a MHSAA Division 4 regional semifinal game against Munising on Nov. 12, 2024 at Escanaba High School. (Adam Hinch/Daily Press photo)

ESCANABA — The Forest Park Trojans kept their postseason dreams intact here Tuesday night in a convincing 3-0 (25-14, 25-17, 25-7) volleyball triumph over the Munising Mustangs in a Division 4 regional opener.

Forest Park (34-4-1) meets Hancock (23-6-2) in the title match today at 6 p.m. Eastern time at Baraga. Munising finished 16-8-1.

“I thought we played real good defense which helped set up our offense and made their hitters have to guess a little more,” Trojans’ coach Bobbie Jo Anderson said. “I think playing teams like Calumet and Kingsford helped prepare us for the postseason.

“Hancock has a great team. They have a couple good hitters and they cover the floor well. That will be a great match.”

The first set was tied at five before the Trojans got a sideout on a service error by the Mustangs.

Junior outside hitter Ava Fischer then served for seven straight points, enabling the Trojans to build a 13-5 cushion.

Munising trailed 15-6 after a hitting miscue, then shaved their deficit to 16-10 on a kill by freshman middle hitter Addie Bowerman.

The Mustangs were still within 17-11 following a blocking error.

Forest Park answered with a 7-1 run, gaining an insurmountable 24-12 advantage on a kill by Fischer.

“We played a really good match,” Fischer said. “We really wanted to make sure we played our game. Our communication was absolutely good tonight and our serving has been really good this year. It was really good to get that competition (from Kingsford and Calumet). We’ll see that kind of competition if we go downstate. I thought they (Munising) played a good match.”

Bowerman started the second set with a kill, giving the Mustangs their only lead in this match.

Munising was within 3-2 on another kill by Bowerman before back-to-back kills by Fischer helped the Trojans surge to a 10-3 lead.

A kill by senior Elizabeth Wing brought Munising within 11-5 before Forest Park responded with six straight points for a 17-5 advantage.

A service ace by freshman Evie Anderson gave the Trojans a 19-6 advantage.

After the Mustangs trimmed their deficit to 19-11, a kill by junior outside hitter Elsie Williams temporarily slowed their momentum.

Fischer provided Forest Park with a kill and 22-12 advantage before Munising got within 23-17 on a kill by Wing.

The Trojans, however, didn’t allow the Mustangs to get any closer.

Forest Park quickly took charge in the third, taking a 5-0 lead on a kill by sophomore outside hitter Tessa Bartoszek.

A block by Bowerman gave Munising a sideout before Forest Park lengthened its lead to 8-1.

The Mustangs got within 9-5 on a four-hit violation by the Trojans.

Forest Park then got a sideout and sophomore Vienna Price served for eight consecutive points and an insurmountable 18-5 advantage.

“Unlike any other team, Forest Park doesn’t give you anything,” Munising coach Josh Cole said. “You have to earn your points.

“From my perspective it was real good volleyball. Forest Park was that much better.”

Fischer led the Trojans with six aces, 13 kills and eight digs. Williams added eight kills, 20 assists and seven digs and Price had 16 assists and seven digs.

Freshman libero Lily Curnow, however, was Forest Park’s defensive leader with 11 digs.

Evie Anderson had eight digs to go with four kills.

“Upward and onward,” coach Anderson said. “What a team effort.

“Our defense was solid, covering the court and making it tough for them to score with very few balls hitting the floor.”

Bowerman collected six kills and six blocks.

Senior Bailey Corcoran tallied four kills and two blocks. Wing also had four kills and sophomore setter Carissa Deatsman distributed 15 assists.

“Addie’s a gamer,” Cole said. “She’s locked in and wants to win. Our setter is a sophomore. We’re definitely excited for her future, only it’s sad for our seniors.

“I thought they did a real good job buying into it toward the end of the season.”

Forest Park — Fischer (six aces, 13 kills, eight digs); E. Anderson (one ace, four kills, one assist, eight digs); Price (one ace, 16 assists, seven digs); E. Williams (eight kills, one block, 20 assists, seven digs); Bartoszek (five kills, one dig); Ayers (four kills, one block); H. Anderson (three kills, six digs); Curnow (one assist, 11 digs); Gasperich (one dig).

Munising — Deatsman (one ace, 15 assists); Bowerman (six kills, six blocks); Corcoran (four kills, two blocks); Wing (four kills).