Staff photo by Steve Muscatello Sleepy Eye’s Mya Ibberson (1) spikes the ball as Minnesota Valley Lutheran’s Mara Weisensel attempts to block it Thursday at MVL. For more photos of this event go to cu.nujournal.com

NEW ULM — Minnesota Valley Lutheran and Sleepy Eye made Thursday’s volleyball match resemble a fight to the finish as the Chargers prevailed 25-11, 22-25, 25-21, 18-25, 15-9 in a Tomahawk Conference match.

The Chargers jumped out to early 3-0 lead in the fifth and deciding set. MVL appeared to get a step ahead of the Indians, but Sleepy Eye kept fighting back. The margin wasn’t greater than six points until the end when MVL scored the final two points.

“The Tomahawk Conference is pretty tough,” MVL head coach Sara Gieseke said. “We have a lot of teams with very good players. Everyone battles really well.”

Gieske said that both teams were evenly matched and there were a number of long, competive volleys.

Things started out well for MVL as it was able to build 13-4 lead. The Chargers used good digs, solid hits with some good kills to win the first set.

The second set saw Sleepy Eye win in a close one. MVL put together a 6-0 run to close the gap from 24-15 to 24-21. MVL knocked the ball out of bounds for the winning point for the Indians.

Sleepy Eye jumped out to a 6-0 lead in the third set. MVL battled back with both teams tying the set on four separate times. MVL was able to earn the last three points to win it.

Both teams stayed close to each other throughout the fourth set. Neither team led by very much, but Sleepy Eye was able to score key points down the stretch to force a fifth set.

“It was a good match,” Sleepy Eye head coach Sidney Geiger said. “Both teams fought for it and both teams wanted it. We played pretty hard all night. They dug alot of balls up.”

For MVL, Haley Birkholz had 16 kills and 25 digs, Lauren Paulsen added 13 kills with eight blocks and Mara Weisensel had 12 kills with four blocks. Maddie Pearson had 22 set assists and Mackenzie Helget added 20 set assists. Abby Riesgraf had 19 digs.

Cassidy Hoffmann led Sleepy Eye with 32 set assists, Madi Krueger added 30 digs, Madi Heiderscheidt had 11 kills and 25 digs. Mya Ibberson added 17 kills.

MVL (8-8, 3-3) will participate in the Blue Earth Area Invitational Tournament on Saturday. Sleepy Eye (8-10, 2-4) will host Wabasso on Tuesday.