PINEDALE – Games between the Pinedale High School Lady Wrangler volleyball team and its conference rivals in Lyman and Mountain View are always exciting.

Pinedale’s away game against Lyman on Thursday, Sept. 28, and its home game versus Mountain View on Sept. 30, did not disappoint. Both games featured plenty of sustained back-and-forth, point-for-point battles.

Unfortunately, Pinedale came up short against Lyman, 3-1, and Mountain View, 3-0.

Most of the sets were determined by only a handful of points, however, and the Lady Wranglers fought with heart.

The Lady Wranglers’ ability to give their opponents a run for their money bodes well for the next time Pinedale clashes with Bridger Valley teams this season.

Lyman

Pinedale dominated the first set.

Sophomore Alyxis White scored the first point for the Lady Wranglers with a kill and senior Ana Mika made a block.

Lyman briefly tied the set at 4 points before Pinedale retook the lead with a kill from senior Trista Covill.

White aced a serve for point 7 and junior Mae McGuire powered over a kill. Senior Ashley Boulter served up a pair of aces while McGuire and Covill both made blocks.

Covill scored twice from the service line and McGuire and Mika both spiked over hits. The Lady Eagles struck out returning a serve by junior Gabby Rogers. White followed up with three more kills.

Lyman served out and Pinedale scored game point, 25-20.

The Lady Eagles established an early lead in the second set and held on through game point, 25-19, although Pinedale came close to closing the gap on multiple occasions.

During a hotly contested third set, the lead bounced back and forth. Covill tied the set at 3 points with a kill. Coverage by Mika and senior Reagan Davis pulled Pinedale ahead at 6 points. Kills by White, Covill, McGuire and Mika maintained Pinedale’s momentum and White aced a serve.

The Lady Eagles caught up to Pinedale at 16 points. Pinedale seized the initiative back with blocks by Covill and White.

Lyman ultimately closed the gap at 18 points and edged ahead to narrowly win the set, 25-20.

Pinedale found itself outmaneuvered in the fourth set, with Lyman scoring game point, 25-16.

Mountain View

The Lady Buffalos won the first set, 25-12.

Undaunted, the Lady Wranglers battled back in a second set that came down to the wire.

Mountain View scored the first points before faltering and serving into the net or sending the ball out of bounds.

Mika served up a pair of points for Pinedale, and the set tied at 4 points.

Mountain View snuck back up before striking out returning two serves by Rogers. Junior Paiyzli Baker delivered a hit. White and McGuire both made blocks, closing Pinedale’s deficit to a single point.

Mountain View sent the ball out of bounds attempting to return a serve by White, and the set reached a 16-16 deadlock. Covill leapt up to make a block and followed up with back-to-back kills.

Boulter aced a serve and Davis made a block to keep the set tied at 21 points.

Mountain View failed to respond to a hit by McGuire and the set reached a stalemate at 22 points.

Mountain View then managed to score 3 points, including game point, 25-22.

The first half of the third set followed a similar pattern. Pinedale established an early lead with a dig by Covill and a strike by Rogers. McGuire made a pair of blocks to place the Lady Wranglers ahead, 8-7. Davis powered over a kill, tying the set at 10 points.

Mountain View found its footing at 14 points and remained in the lead through game point, 25-15.

The Lady Wranglers compete at the 2023 Conference Duels at Powell on Oct. 6-7, taking on 3A teams they will likely see again in the postseason.