The Tri-Valley Mustang volleyball team rallied for an extra-time win in the fourth set and then took the fifth set for a 3-2 home match win over the Lennox Orioles on Thursday, September 1st. The Mustangs won the match by set scores of 22-25, 25-13, 20-25, 28-26, and 15-8.
The first half of the opening set went back and forth as neither team was able to get more than a two-point lead. The Mustangs had a lead of 17-15, but Lennox went on a 5-1 run for a 20-18 lead. The Mustangs got within a point, but couldn’t tie the score, and Lennox won the opening set 25-21. Tri-Valley wasted no time in building an early 9-1 lead to start the second set. That eight-point advantage was more than enough for the Mustangs. Lennox never threatened Tri-Valley, and the Mustangs took the second set 25-13.
The third set started much like the first. The two teams were tied at 9-9, but the Orioles then went on a 6-0 run for a 15-9 lead. Tri-Valley slowly battled back and got within a point, 20-19, but Lennox closed out the set on a 5-1 run for a 25-20 win. The Mustangs put the early pressure on Lennox to start the fourth set as they built an 8-2 lead. Lennox kept fighting throughout the set, but Tri-Valley still led 22-18 late. Lennox scored four in a row to tie the score 22-22. The Mustangs responded with the next two points and led 24-22. Lennox would not go away quietly as they then scored the next three points for a 25-24 advantage to put themselves at match point. The Orioles again were at match point with a 26-25 lead, but Tri-Valley scored the final three points to tie the match and force a fifth set.
The fifth set started closed with the score tied 4-4. The Mustangs then went on a 4-0 run to give themselves an 8-4 lead. They were able to extend the lead to 13-7 before taking the set 15-8 to win the match.
Maddie Wenzel finished with 15 kills, two ace serves, and a block. Megan Wenzel had eight kills, three ace serves, and two blocks. Cheyenne Hanson finished with 25 digs. Kenzie Atwood added 19 digs. Nevaeh Grann had 20 set assists and three ace serves. Brooklyn Stieben had 18 set assists.
