The Valley City Hi-Liner volleyball team bounced back from Tuesday’s loss to Kindred with a four-set victory over the Central Cass Squirrels on Thursday, winning 25-10, 23-25, 25-10, 25-20.

Valley City opened the match with a dominant performance, racing out to a 10-1 lead behind the serving of Brynn Lueck. The advantage grew to as many as 14 points as the Hi-Liners’ offense found its rhythm and Central Cass struggled with unforced errors. Valley City maintained control the rest of the way, cruising to a 25-10 opening-set win.

The second set brought a reversal of fortunes, as many of the mistakes that plagued the Squirrels in the opener shifted to the Hi-Liners’ side. With the score tied at 23-23, a wayward kill attempt by Kierstin Klabo gave Central Cass possession. Whitney Mitchell then finished a scramble at the net with a kill to secure a 25-23 Squirrels victory and even the match.

The Hi-Liners responded emphatically in the third set, once again using Lueck’s serving to build a sizable lead. Central Cass struggled to find an answer as Valley City rolled to another 25-10 win.

The fourth set appeared headed in the opposite direction when the Squirrels surged to a 9-1 lead, forcing Valley City coach Cynthia Klabo to call a timeout.

The Hi-Liners gradually chipped away at the deficit with a series of small runs, eventually tying the set at 20-20. A block gave Valley City its first lead of the set at 21-20, and Lueck kept the momentum going with an ace and a kill. A block by Skye Nielson then put the Hi-Liners on match point.

A Central Cass net violation ended the comeback attempt and secured a 25-20 fourth-set victory for Valley City.

The Hi-Liners return to action this week at the Scheels Metro Invite in Fargo before hosting the Wahpeton Huskies next Tuesday. First serve is scheduled for 7 p.m.

The match can be heard on 1490 AM/96.3 FM KOVC, online at NewsDakota.com and on the KOVC Live YouTube Channel.