JACKSON – Both the Sept. 24 non-conference game between the Pinedale High School Lady Wranglers and Jackson and the Sept. 27 away conference match against Mountain View came down to the wire.

True to form, the Lady Wranglers battled back from initial setbacks to slam over victories in the third and fourth sets in what turned into epic five-set matches versus both opponents.

On Tuesday, Pinedale dug deep to win the fifth set against Jackson, 15-11 and capture a 3-2 overall victory. Saturday’s match with Mountain View proved neck-and-neck with the Lady Wranglers scoring two crucial points to win the fifth set and secure another 3-2 win.

“It was a very successful volleyball week for the Lady Wranglers all the way around,” head coach Liz Covill wrote. “All athletes played well and contributed crucial plays. It took everyone on the team to get the job done.”

The Lady Wranglers retained the No. 1 spot in the 3A Southwest Quadrant following Pinedale’s victory over Mountain View. Both the Jackson and Mountain View games propelled Pinedale to a 14-6 overall record.

Jackson

The Lady Wranglers “showed their grit” against Jackson on Tuesday, coach Covill said.

“Pinedale lost a close first set, 25-22, then another set, 25-17, before digging in and playing point-for-point until they won the third set, 30-28,” Covill added. “The Lady Wranglers kept the momentum, winning the fourth set, 25-13.”

It all came down to the winner-takes-all fifth set. Pinedale scored the first point with a block by senior Mae McGuire and junior Alyxis White. The Lady Wranglers widened their lead, 5-1, when senior Paiyzli Baker aced a serve and White slammed over a kill.

Seniors Karsyn Henn and Madeline Hawke reached up for a block and Pinedale found itself ahead, 6-1.

Jackson responded with a five-point run to tie the set at six and take control of the scoreboard at seven.

A kill by White resulted in a 7-7 deadlock. Jackson scored a point to regain the lead, 8-7, before a kill by Madeline Hawke tied the set again at eight.

Junior Charlotte Hawke delivered a kill and Pinedale recaptured the lead, 9-8.

The Lady Wranglers put Jackson in the rearview mirror and maintained the lead for the remainder of the set. McGuire and senior Lauryn Scurlock made a block, followed by an ace from Madeline Hawke.

Charlotte Hawke scored game point, 15-11, with a kill, assisted by setter and junior Erin Murphy.

Senior Gabby Rogers set the pace for Pinedale at the service line against Jackson, tallying 25 serves and four aces. Rogers also covered the floor for Pinedale as libero and collected 15 digs.

Baker totaled 15 serves and two aces. Henn contributed 13 serves and an ace.

White led the Lady Wranglers in kills with 14. The junior also tallied 16 digs and 27 passes.

Charlotte Hawke delivered 10 kills, McGuire seven and Madeline Hawke six.

On defense, Covill described the blocking as “phenomenal” throughout the match. McGuire made eight blocks, Baker four, Madeline Hawke four and Henn three.

Henn delivered 21 assists as setter.

Mountain View

Pinedale fell in the first two sets against Mountain View, 25-22 and 27-25, before “making a great comeback” to win the third and fourth sets by a 25-21 margin in both, Covill said.

The tiebreaker fifth set turned into a “point-for-point battle” until “some amazing team defense efforts clinched the game” for Pinedale, Covill wrote.

The Lady Wranglers scored first in the fifth set with a kill apiece by White and Madeline Hawke.

Mountain View edged ahead, 4-3. A kill by White and block from Madeline Hawke and Scurlock tied the set at five.

The Lady Wranglers regained the lead at seven with a block by McGuire and Charlotte Hawke.

Charlotte Hawke powered over a kill and Pinedale pulled ahead, 8-6.

Mountain View managed to match Pinedale in scoring at eight. Another block from Scurlock and McGuire placed the Lady Wranglers up, 9-8.

Pinedale stayed ahead with service errors by Mountain View. Mountain View found its footing again and scored several points to tie the set at 12.

Mountain View tangled with the net returning a dig by Rogers and the game reached a 13-13 stalemate.

A point by Mountain View placed the Lady Buffaloes up, 14-13. Pinedale responded with a block by Scurlock. The Lady Buffaloes sent the ball into the net returning a hit by Charlotte Hawke.

Scurlock and Madeline Hawke scored game point with a block, 16-14.

Defensively, Madeline Hawke set the momentum for Pinedale with eight blocks. Scurlock tallied six blocks with five from McGuire.

White led in kills with 19, followed by Charlotte Hawke with 16, Madeline Hawke nine and McGuire five.

White, Rogers and Murphy each aced two serves. Rogers totaled 19 digs as libero and attained a 2.16 passing rating.

Murphy tallied 22 assists and Henn delivered 19.