ESSEXVILLE, MI – It wasn’t the height or skill or athleticism that got Jessie Grant excited about her new team.

It was the spark.

“They had great attitudes, they were competitive and they had fun,” said Grant, the first-year Bay City Western volleyball coach. “That combination got me excited to work with them.”

Those qualities would serve the upstart Warriors well as they went into the Duke Dome, upset No. 8-ranked Essexville Garber and emerged as surprise winners of the Bay County Volleyball Championship.

Western outdueled the host Dukes in the semifinals – halting Garber’s five-year Bay County dynasty – then defeated John Glenn 25-20, 25-12 to claim the crown for the first time since 2018.

“They were very excited, like we just won the state championship,” Grant said. “There was a l

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