MP volleyball claims win in five-set thriller

FT. MADISON ? This was a match that couldn?t be settled without a few extra points.

With two wins for each team, the Mt. Pleasant volleyball match in Ft. Madison went to the deciding fifth set, which is played to 15 points.

But the Panthers and Bloodhounds battled back and forth, past 15 points, until the Panthers took a 19-17 decision to win the set and the match, capping a thrilling night in Southeast Conference volleyball.

?The varsity match was very exciting to be a part of and watch,? Mt. Pleasant Coach Luci Wulfekuhle said of the Panthers first five-set match this season. ?It was a high-emotions night with both teams fighting with everything they had. The girls played extremely well in all three levels and we coaches are very proud of the players.?

The JV and freshmen teams also came up with wins over Ft. Madison for the Panthers? second three-level sweep of the Bloodhounds this season.

But in the teams? most recent meeting, at the Burlington Tournament on Sept. 22, the Bloodhounds defeated the Panthers, and Mt. Pleasant was expecting trouble again from their SEC opponent.

?We knew that was going to give them momentum, and we were the underdog,? Wulfekuhle said.

And the Bloodhounds certainly didn?t make the win easy.

?Fort Madison did a great job of swinging at us,? Wulfekuhle said.

In the match, the teams alternated wins: the Panthers took the first and third set, 25-21 and 25-18, and Ft. Madison won the second and fourth set, 25-20 and 25-23.

Mt. Pleasant (now 16-15 overall and 5-2 in conference) sealed a second-place conference finish, behind Fairfield.

On the night, Kathryn Chabal was 18-for-18 serving and had 22 digs.

Kelsi Phipps had 18 kills, seven digs and six total blocks.

Elinor Krieger-Coble had 14 kills, 13 digs and went 24-for-26 from the service line with three aces.

?Elinor Krieger-Coble and Kelsi Phipps played well, and libero Kathryn Chabal led the back row,? Wulfekuhle said, but also noted that the win was a team effort. ?I?m proud of every single one of my players.?

Lauren Hillman was a perfect 16-for-16 on serves with one ace; she had a team-high 28 assists and 16 digs.

Taryne Shull put down eight kills and put up four total blocks, and Lydia Smith had six kills and five digs. Linzie Hood had seven kills, four blocks and eight digs.

Ashley Loving had 16 assists and 10 digs. Madison Pullis had eight digs, and Holly Long added seven. Brianne Potts contributed six digs and two ace serves. Allie Liechty had three aces.

The Panthers will host Keokuk on Oct. 18.