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CITY  (NewsDakota.com)–A solid defense again laid the groundwork for a Hi-Liner volleyball effort that put a scare into an Eastern Dakota Conference (EDC) contender Thursday night.

But the effort was just short. 

Fargo Davies tipped Valley City 3-2 (21-25, 25-15, 22-25, 25-10, 15-12), capturing a two-point EDC win in Fargo.

The Hi-Liners just fell short, with three key errors in a tight fifth set after masterful defense throughout the night.

The first set was a bit of a shocker for the Davies crowd, as the Eagle offense, outside of Kali Erickson, fell apart.  Erickson recorded eight first-set kills, but the remainder of the team hit the ball wide, long, or low.  Valley City took advantage, building an eight-point edge.

Erickson would rotate to the front row late in the set, and her burst cut the Hi-Liner lead to three, before a block by Clarissa Olson forced set point.  The Hi-Liners closed out the first a rally later at 25-21.

Davies wasted no time getting back into the match.  Behind Kinsey Papachek, the Eagles built a 6-1 lead to start the set.  The Hi-Liners closed to within two at 14-12, but Erickson produced again, reaching her 15th kill on set point for a 25-15 Davies win, tying the match.

An even third was broken open by the Hi-Liners on three straight aces by Jessica Denholm, powering a four-point run that produced a 17-14 Hi-Liner lead.  They would eventually claim eight of 10 rallies to lead 22-16.

But Davies won a sideout that rotated Erickson to the front row, and, as in the first, Davies closed the gap, this time to one at 23-22.  But back-to-back net fouls by the Eagles allowed the Hi-Liners to win two for free, closing out a 25-22 win.

There was no momentum for the Hi-Liners in the fourth, with Davies’ offense finally finding rhythm.  With Erickson in the back row, the serving of libero Mackenna Bachmeier put the Hi-Liners out of system early, with the Eagles taking a 14-4 lead, then extending the edge to 16 on set point.  They closed out a 25-10 win, sending the match to a decisive fifth set.

The fifth left a sour taste in Valley City’s mouth, as three service errors were the difference.  The teams traded points throughout, with the largest lead for either team three points.  Davies missed on their first match point, but won the second at 15-12, taking the match.

Valley City falls to 1-8 overall, 0-4 in EDC play.  Their next action is in Valley City at the Optimist Tournament next weekend.