FARGO, ND  (NewsDakota.com)  In the end, the Hi-Liners finished one rotation short of Fargo North Thursday.

Kadie Kocka, who had 10 of her match-high 15 kills in the final two sets, was trapped in the back row at the end of the fourth as the Spartans rallied from a deficit to win by four, taking a 3-1 (25-17, 25-17, 18-25, 25-21) win over Valley City.

The match was the lone match of the season between the Spartans and Hi-Liners, who entered the night tied for fifth place in the Eastern Dakota Conference standings.  With the match being worth both EDC points between the two teams, North jumped to 6-4 in the league, while the Hi-Liners fell to 5-7.

Valley City struggled to get started against a massive Fargo North front row, with 6’1″ middle Anna Halvorson using her blocking ability to turn away Hi-Liner attacks in the first two sets.  Meanwhile, Solei Berg led the Spartan offense from the outside pin.

After Jovi Borg bouyed the Hi-Liner offense early Kocka found her stride in the third from the outside.  The Hi-Liner passing game improved throughout the match, allowing for better opportunities for Kocka from the outside, which showed in a seven-point third-set win.

As Kocka’s offense found a groove, other options opened for Valley City.  Ava Huesby found a role on the right, knocking dow 11 kills on the night.  Bailey Leroux and Katie Burchill both factored in key blocks in the third and fourth set.

Valley City led by three in the fourth, but a late rally by the Spartans tied the set and 20-20, and put Halvorson back in the front row, while Kocka rotated back.  Fargo North finished with five of the final six rallies breaking their way with Kocka one rotation away from moving back to the front.

The Hi-Liners face West Fargo Sheyenne Tuesday in another two-point EDC match.