In what was arguably their best performance of the season, the Valley City Hi-Liner Volleyball team pulled off an impressive comeback, rallying after a tough third-set defeat to force a decisive fifth set and ultimately secure the win against Fargo South.

The match started with a sluggish first set from Valley City, with multiple serves either landing in the net or going out of bounds, allowing the Bruins to grab an early lead. The Hi-Liners made a late push, closing the gap to 21-22, but Fargo South halted the comeback, finishing the set with three straight points to win 25-22.

The second set mirrored the first, with Valley City struggling early and falling behind 13-19. This time, though, the Hi-Liners fought back with determination, outscoring the Bruins 12-3 down the stretch to snatch a 25-22 victory and level the match at 1-1.

Momentum swung in the Hi-Liners’ favor as they jumped out to a commanding 13-5 lead in the third set, capitalizing on several miscues by Fargo South. However, a timely timeout by the Bruins allowed them to regroup and mount a comeback, tying the game at 18. From there, the Bruins unleashed a barrage of powerful attacks, taking the set 25-22 and grabbing a 2-1 lead.

Valley City responded emphatically in the fourth set, showing no signs of letting up. Their serving, defense, and overall execution were on point as they quickly built and maintained a lead, dominating the set 25-15. Kinlee Sufficool had a marvelous set, including a perfectly timed assist to Kadie Kocka for the set-clinching kill.

The final set was a fierce battle of wills. Valley City opened with a 3-0 run, but Fargo South answered with a 4-0 run of their own. Both teams traded points in a tense back-and-forth contest until the Hi-Liners broke a 9-9 deadlock with another 3-0 run, giving them a crucial 12-9 lead. The teams continued to exchange points, with Valley City holding match point at 14-12. A perfectly executed combination between Kocka and Brynn Lueck resulted in Kocka smashing the game-winning kill, sealing the five-set victory for the Hi-Liners.

Valley City now looks ahead to their next challenge, an October 3rd matchup with the Fargo North Spartans in Fargo.