ELK POINT — Tri-Valley went toe-to-toe with Elk Point-Jefferson Tuesday night and had chances to steal a road win, but the Huskies survived in five sets as the Mustangs fell 3-2 (25-22, 23-25, 22-25, 25-17, 15-10). Tri-Valley showed plenty of fight after dropping the opener, winning sets two and three to take a 2-1 lead, but Elk Point-Jefferson responded with a strong fourth set and carried that momentum into the deciding fifth.
Set 1 — Huskies finish the opener
The first set was tight early, with the teams even at 3-3 and 6-6. Elk Point-Jefferson created separation with a run to go up 12-7, then kept the Mustangs at arm’s length at 14-11 and 19-14. Tri-Valley kept pushing late and made it a one-point set at 23-22, but the Huskies closed it out 25-22.
Set 2 — Mustangs answer and even the match
Tri-Valley responded with a sharp start in set two, jumping ahead 3-1 and 8-4. Elk Point-Jefferson made a push, but the Mustangs stayed in front at 11-9 and 16-13. The Huskies tightened it late, but Tri-Valley held on through the final points, finishing the set 25-23 to tie the match at 1-1.
Set 3 — Tri-Valley takes control late
Set three swung hard in Tri-Valley’s favor early, as the Mustangs surged to a 7-2 lead. Elk Point-Jefferson battled back to make it a one-point set at 9-8, but Tri-Valley steadied and led 15-11. The Huskies tied it at 16-16, setting up a tense finish. Tri-Valley made the key move late, pushing ahead 20-18 and then 24-21 before closing out the set 25-22 to take a 2-1 match lead.
Set 4 — Huskies force a fifth
Tri-Valley and Elk Point-Jefferson traded points early in the fourth, tied at 7-7 after the Huskies held a brief edge at 4-3. From there, Elk Point-Jefferson grabbed momentum, turning an 8-10 deficit into a lead at 12-10, then stretching it to 15-10 and 18-12. Tri-Valley tried to climb back in, but the Huskies kept building, leading 21-16 and finishing the set 25-17 to force a fifth.
Set 5 — Elk Point-Jefferson closes it
The fifth set stayed tight early, with Tri-Valley up 2-1 and the teams even at 4-4. Elk Point-Jefferson made the deciding run from there, edging in front 7-6 and then widening the gap to 10-7 and 12-9. The Huskies finished the match at 15-10.
Emry Jones had 16 kills, four ace serves, and two blocks. Brooke Steineke also had 16 kills. Lily Schlueter tallied 44 set assists. Peyton Vogt ended with seven kills and three set assists. Taylor Nelson had 27 digs, and Rowyn Gacke had 24 digs.
