Trojans take 5

FAIRFIELD — Staying true to form, the Class 4A Region 3 volleyball opener between Fairfield and Mt. Pleasant was an all-out nail-biter on Tuesday night. The win-or-go-home went the distance, and when it was all said and done, the Trojans reigned supreme.

After splitting the first four sets, the Trojans pulled out a wild fifth to win it 25-23, 23-25, 25-19, 22-25, 15-13.

“It was really, really nerve-wracking,” said Fairfield senior Mallory Lyon. “But it was super exciting when we won.”

The two teams traded punches in the opening set. The first game was tied on several different occasions, including at 19-19, 20-20, 21-21 and 22-22. Fairfield scored three of the last four points of the match, including the game-winner from Macy Raburn, giving the Trojans a big 25-23 Set 1 victory.

“I feel like all of the games we've played against Mt. Pleasant have been really close,” Rayburn said. “We knew that they were coming for us, and we were coming for them, and luckily we pulled through.”

A big serve streak from Regan Seberg helped the Panthers grab an early lead in the second set. Fairfield came fighting back, even cutting it to 24-23 on a kill by Lyon, but the Panthers pulled out the last point and it was all square at 1-1.

Fairfield controlled the third. The Trojans led by as much as nine points, at 15-6, and then fought off a Mt. Pleasant comeback that had the lead down to three. With the lead at 22-19, Lyon tallied back-to-back kills, and Maddie Jones gave the Trojans the 25-19 set win with an ace.

Fairfield looked destined to win the night in four. Fairfield scored the first four points of the fourth set, and held a 5-1 lead thanks in part to a trifecta of early kills by Anna Dunlap.

Mt. Pleasant clawed back and took a 13-12 lead on a kill by Kenna Lamm. The Panther senior had six kills in the fourth set, including the game-winner.

“A lot of up-and-down emotions. You get down and you work your way back in,” said Mt. Pleasant head coach David Streeter. “The girls gave themselves a chance. That's all you can ask for.”

Predictably, the fifth set was just as much of a fight as the first four. Mt. Pleasant held an 8-7 lead after an Emma Starr kill, but Fairfield scored the next five to take what looked to be a commanding 12-8 advantage.

Fairfield was two points away from a win after a Maya Lane kill gave the Trojans a 13-9 advantage. Mt. Pleasant won the next point, and Jacara Ivey stepped up to serve. She helped the Panthers claw back to a 13-13 tie with a three-point streak that included one service ace.

“She did a great job,” said Streeter. “It takes a lot of mental toughness to go back there and be able to serve us right back into the game.”

Fairfield head coach Diana Drish took a timeout with the game knotted at 13-13 to settle down her squad.

“At that point, the kids just need to be playing their hardest,” Drish said. “That's what volleyball is all about.”

Lyon broke the tie with a kill on the next point. After a Mt. Pleasant timeout, Rayburn sent down the game-winner to keep the Trojans’ season alive, and end Mt. Pleasant’s in the process.

“I was like, 'I've got to end it. I've got to find the open spot on the court,’” Rayburn said. “That's what I did. I just put it in that corner where I usually go.”

Fairfield had four players in double digit kills by the end of the night. Lyon’s 15 kills led the squad. Mt. Pleasant’s Lamm finished the night with 22.

Mt. Pleasant ended its season at 20-15. Fairfield (13-19) will move on to play at No. 6 Oskaloosa (29-4) on Thursday night.