Fort knocked out of Region III

FORT DEFIANCE — Liberty-Bedford was too much for Fort Defiance on Monday night as it defeated the Indians in five games 23-25, 24-26, 25-18, 25-22 and 15-11.

The Indians took early command over the Minutemen by winning the first two games but were unable to get a win in any of the next three.

Fort was on the attack early as it crashed the net with Kayla Pleskonko and Becca Houff.

Pleskonko had three blocks early and Houff had a couple of aces and a block to give the Indians the early lead, but the Minutemen stayed close and blasted kills through the Indians’ defense.

Melanie Updike kept the Minutemen in the game with a couple of kills and an ace that got them back into contention.

The Minutemen had a 23-21 lead in the first game but a late rally by the Indians gave stalled the visitors’ attack. Fort won the game 25-23.

Game 2 was much like Game 1 as Fort got the early lead but the Minutemen kept close.

Liberty took a commanding 23-17 lead over the Indians but was stopped again and fell 26-24.

The Minutemen, however, were not about to give up and let the Indians sweep them away.

Game 3 was an up and down battle as neither team could get the advantage. The Indians’ Katie Dunsmore kept Fort in contention to take the sweep as she recorded two blocks and a kill to get within four points of the Minutemen.

The Minutemen capitalized on some of the Indians’ mistakes and pulled out the victory to stay alive.

“I wish I could understand why we can’t win a third game,” said Fort coach Lynn Alexander. “I am going to have to try to figure out why we can’t win that third game.”

The Minutemen had the momentum going into Game 4 and put the Indians on their heels, as Libby Tomlin and Updike were able to place the ball in between Fort defenders on multiple occasions.

The Indians kept close with the Minutemen in hope to get the win. Pleskonko nailed a kill midway through the game to tie it up but the Minutemen pulled away to tie up the match 2-2.

Both crowds sat nervously as they knew one side would be going home for good if it lost Game 5.

The Minutemen took the early advantage with a 2-0 lead but the Indians came back with two aces from Heidi Michael.

With the Minutemen down 8-6, an ace from Tomlin sparked a fire in the Minutemen as they never looked back and took the win 15-11. Liberty will travel to undefeated Turner Ashby tonight for the Region III quarterfinals. 

Coach Alexander wished the season wouldn’t have ended the way it did, but she was proud of her team this year.

“I am incredibly proud of them right now. I wish the match wouldn’t have ended like this.” Alexander said. “It is hard to see these girls end there season in such a heart breaking loss.”

The Indians have a lot of expectations for next year and nobody is looking forward to it more than Becca Houff.

“I had a lot of fun this year and I had great teammates,” Houff said.  “I am already looking forward to next year.”