Then the Wolverines took the floor and played perhaps their best volleyball of the season in a 25-10, 25-9 and 25-15 sweep of the Fires. Sheffield was stellar from the service line and drastically reduced the number of unforced errors on the floor.

“This was a good win for them,” Sheffield coach Melissa Lemay said. “We only had eight attack errors and 24 kills. We were much better tonight.”

The Wolverines led wire-to-wire in the first two sets.

Sheffield jumped out to a 6-2 lead to start the first. Forest trimmed the deficit to 6-4, but Sheffield stormed right back and a kill and ace from Grubbs put the Wolverines ahead 10-4. A service error made it 10-5, but the Wolverines got a side out and went on a 10-0 run to essentially put the set out of reach. Johnson had back-to-back kills to make it 23-7 and Lynzie Grubbs put down a kill to close out the set win.

Sheffield’s Lexi Goldthwaite (15) puts down a kill during the third set of a match against Forest at Sheffield High School, Monday, Oct. 14, 2019. Goldthwaite had four kills in the match as the Wolverines swept the Fires.

It was 6-2 again to start the second. A service error closed the gap to 12-9, but Sheffield immediately got the side out and Emily Leichtenberger stepped to the service line.

She never stepped away.

Leichtenberger served the next 12 points, with eight of the 12 being aces.

“Emily served very well,” Lemay said. “She was very focused. She works so hard at her craft.”

The third set wasn’t quite as smooth sailing for the Wolverines.

After taking a 4-1 lead, a pair of Sheffield errors allowed Forest to tie the set at 5-5. The Fires took their first lead of the match at 6-5. The Wolverines quickly regained a 7-6 advantage, but Forest rallied again to take an 8-7 lead. A Forest ace pushed the advantage to 12-9. A service error gave the serve to Sheffield and Leichtenberger stepped to the line again. Back-to-back aces tied the set at 13, and a third gave the Wolverines a 15-13 advantage.

A Lexi Goldthwaite kill made it 18-14 and sent Marissa Grubbs to the service line. Back-to-back aces had the Wolverines on the precipice of a sweep at 24-14, but an attack error delayed the gratification. Forest committed a net violation on the final point of the match as Sheffield completed the sweep.

“Marissa is so even-keeled,” Lemay said. “She doesn’t get rattled and strives to be the best teammate she can be. She’s a calming presence, but also likes to have fun and is always honing her craft.”

For the match, Leichtenberger had 16 aces. Marissa Grubbs and Johnson each added four aces.

“We have to minimize our mistakes, but if we can serve consistently serve this well tonight, we can serve this consistently against any team,” Lemay said.

Johnson also contributed four kills, 15 assists and seven digs and Grubbs put down three kills and had four digs.

“Megan has been our setter for two years and did a fantastic job moving the ball,” Lemay said. “She’s gotten so much better this year understanding that she needs to run the offense when she’s in the front row and play defense in the back row.”

Lynzie Grubbs and Anna McCracken tied for the team lead with five kills each. Goldthwaite had four kills.

Sheffield swept the junior varsity match, 25-22 and 25-14.

Sheffield is back at it again tonight when the Wolverines welcome Kane to the Ralph J. Santo gymnasium.