With its back up against the wall, the Dayton High School volleyball team rallied back to take a five-set victory against Whittell on Saturday afternoon.
The Dust Devils rebounded after losing the fourth set by a 15-2 score, then came from behind to win the final 17-15 in a battle between rivals that qualified for the 1999 3A state tournament.
In fact, Whittell eliminated Dayton from the state tournament last November in a close match that saw the final two sets decided by 16-14, 15-13 scores. Saturday's match was a non-conference affair - Whittell now competes as a class 2A school - but you couldn't tell that by looking out on the court as Dayton won 15-13, 9-15, 15-7, 2-15, 17-15.
"They're not in our league anymore, but we still like to play them because they always have a good team," said Dayton coach Sondra McMullen, whose club is now 6-4 overall on the season.
The Dust Devils weren't down after their decisive loss in the fourth game, and instead, jumped out to an early 6-0 lead. The Warriors from Zephyr Cove came back to take leads of 14-13 and 15-14, but Dayton came back to win.
Dayton was led by a balanced attack at the net as Jennie Morphew delivered nine kills, Cindy Wanbaugh and Rachel Hurt seven each and Cayla Reese six. Shannon McGlothlin had 18 kills and Kim McGlothlin 12 for Whittell. Hurt and Morphew also combined to put down six and five blocks repsectively and Hurt delivered 19 points from the service line. Joeleene Brinkley scored 17 points for the Warriors, including five aces.
Dayton resumes its Northern 3A schedule Tuesday with a match at Yerington.