KENNETT, Mo. -- It came down to the final few points but the Kennett Indians found a way to escape with a key district victory Tuesday night.
Kennett overcame a lackluster first set as it rallied to beat Doniphan 17-25, 25-14, 25-21.
"The end result is great with a 'W,'" Kennett volleyball coach Veronica Gardner said. "But we would like to have better control of the game from point one to 25."
The Indians enjoyed a 23-18 lead in the decisive set before Doniphan rattled off three straight points to cut the deficit to 23-21 and force a Kennett timeout.
Kennett got a sideout on a Doniphan attack error following the timeout to increase its lead to 24-21 and Camryn Essary followed with an ace serve to secure the victory for Kennett.
"They knew what they needed to do to finish the game," Gardner said. "They just needed to refocus and take a breather. Once everyone calmed down they were ready to finish the game off."
Kennett jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the third set when Melena Green recorded three consecutive kills and Camille Thomas followed with another kill. Doniphan rallied to lead by one twice at 6-5 and 7-6. Kennett followed with the next four points to move ahead 10-7 and never trailed after as it got 11 kills and three aces in the final set.
"We've got to find a way to finish," Doniphan volleyball coach Katie Combs said. "That's what we've struggled with. We are getting closer and hopefully by next week we will figure it out."
Kennett also displayed offensive firepower in the opening set but struggled to keep the ball in play. Six different players combined on the Indians' first six points of the game on five kills and an ace. But Doniphan enjoyed an 8-7 lead after it recorded six of its first eight points on three missed serves and three Kennett attack errors.
"I was very disappointed in how we started the game," Gardner said. "We weren't ready or focussed. Our serve-receive passing and serving was not good in the first set. It picked up in the other two sets. But if we don't pass well and serve well we are going to struggle."
Doniphan eventually found its own offensive rhythm in the first set as it recorded nine of its final 11 points on seven kills and two aces. Doniphan led by as much as 20-11 on its way to a comfortable 25-18 victory.
"When our team is on we are on," Combs said.
Kennett never trailed in the second set. The Indians took eight of the first 11 points for an early 8-3 lead that eventually grew to 14-5 and 21-7.
Melena Green tallied nine of Kennett's 31 kills. She had six ace serves.
Essary, Thomas and Makaya Jones each tallied five kills for Kennett.
Thomas added four ace serves.
Emily Ederer paced Doniphan's offense with six kills. Hanna Ezell and Cadey Eatherton added four kills each.
"My girls have had to overcome a great deal this past week," Combs said. "We've had a bunch of stuff going on and I couldn't be more proud of them for the fight they exhibited tonight. Yes they lost, but they've improved so much."