The Tri-Valley Mustang volleyball hosted the Dakota Valley Panthers on Tuesday, September 1st and took them to five sets, but the Panthers won by set scores of 25-27, 25-16, 25-21, 19-25, and 15-4.
Dakota Valley led through most of the first set. After the Mustangs held a slim 7-6 lead, the Panthers went on a 5-2 run to take an 11-9 lead. They pushed that lead all the way to eight points, 20-12. Tri-Valley cut the lead to 21-17 and then eventually tied the score 22-22. The teams were tied again at 23-23, 24-24, and 25-25. The Mustangs got the final two points to take the first set 27-25. Dakota Valley took an early 3-2 lead to start the second set. They extended their lead to 7-3. The lead continued to grow to nine points, 21-12. They finished the second set with a 25-16 win.
Tri-Valley started the third set with a slim 4-3 lead. The Panthers countered with a 4-0 run to go in front 7-4. They led 12-8, but the Mustangs rallied to tie the score 16-16. Dakota Valley went on a 5-2 run to go back in front 21-18. They continued to stay in front to a 25-21 win. The Mustangs kept fighting and started the fourth set on a 5-2 run. They found the momentum early and extended their lead to 15-8. The lead grew to 10 points, 21-11. The Panthers went on a little rally to make the score 24-19, but the Mustangs stopped the rally to win 25-19 and force a fifth set.
Unfortunately for Tri-Valley, the Panthers got off to a quick start in the fifth set. Dakota Valley led 3-0 and then went on a 9-2 run to make the score 12-2. That run helped them get the 15-4 win in the fifth set to win the match.
