Bark River-Harris junior Dakota Bridges (13) looks to place the ball past Ishpeming Westwood’s Maelani Briggs (5) and Makayle Fisher (1) during a volleyball match on Sept. 17, 2024 at Bark River-Harris High School. (“The Big Dog” Mitch Vosburg/Daily Press)

HARRIS — After suffering a four-set loss to Menominee a day prior, Bark River-Harris volleyball aimed to bounce back on Tuesday night.

The Broncos did just that, pummeling Ishpeming Westwood 25-11, 25-8, 25-5.

“The girls could’ve came out and played down or got down on themselves,” BR-H coach Brooke Anderson said. “They really did a great job executing and playing up to their full potential.”

With an 11-7 lead in the opening frame, BR-H senior Hope Varoni stepped to the service line. By the time she was forced off the line she mustered a trio of aces as the Broncos claimed an 18-8 lead off the 7-1 run, ultimately winning the first frame thanks to two aces from sophomore Emma Zawada.

The Broncos wasted no time jumping ahead in set two, capturing the frame’s first eight points. BR-H closed the set on a 9-1 run thanks to a trio of aces from Mira Johnson.

The Broncos then claimed 12 of the first 13 points in set three and captured the final six points of the stanza to earn the straight-set win.

It also served as a confidence boost for the team, which is composed of four seniors, three juniors and three sophomores.

“It’s easy for younger players to get down on themselves,” Anderson said. “I feel like our sophomore that we moved up (to varsity) have done a great job stepping up to the plate, especially in this game stepping up and playing with confidence.”

Varoni finished the night with 14 assists, seven aces and three digs.

“She’s a rockstar,” Anderson said of Varoni. “Not only is she a super athlete, but she is a positive leader on our team. Despite her great athleticism and awesome setting I think that her leadership on the team is vital to our team chemistry and the way our team performs.”

Dakota Bridges added nine kills, seven digs, three aces and an assist. Mira Johnson earned three aces, three digs and an assist. Alexis Olson added two kills. Kayia Davis contributed three kills and a dig. Jillian Koch added seven digs. Zawada accumulated six aces, four kills and a dig. Kaet Erickson finished with a kill, a dig and a block. Danica Peterson tallied a pair of aces.

The Broncos host Superior Central at 7:30 p.m. Thursday.