FALLON - Galena's defense came through when it had to, and timely serving in the fifth set lifted the Grizzlies to a hard fought five-set High Desert League volleyball win over Fallon Tuesday evening at the Elmo Dericco Gym.
Galena defeated the Wave 27-25, 23-25, 25-23, 13-25 and 15-9 to improve to 8-2. Both McQueen and Galena are tied for first place, while Fallon, 8-3, drops to third place.
"This was a pressure situation," said Galena coach Teresa Burrows. "Fallon's a good team ... competitive. This was a key win for us to keep us on top of the High Desert League."
After Fallon walloped Galena in the fourth set, the Grizzlies dominated the final game. Fallon battled Galena in the first part of the set, trailing 6-5, but the defending Class 4A state champs slowly pulled away. Casey Burke recorded two service points including an ace to give Galena a four-point lead.
Galena pressured the Wave with its serving. Brooke Keever served four points, but Fallon committed three errors to trail 14-7. After both teams traded sideouts, Galena middle blocker Nancy Burrows faked out Fallon's front line with a game-ending shot. Burrows finished the match with a double-double, 20 kills and 18 digs.
"This was two good teams going at it. We faltered in the fourth game because Fallon kept the pressure on," Burrows said. "In the fifth, we a got a run and got ahead. Keever hit her spots real well."
Burrows also said her defense responded to Fallon's outside hitting. Five Galena players combined for 77 digs. Both teams benefitted from their setters. Madison Hardy had 41 assists for Galena, while Paige Olivo dished out 37 assists.
The first three sets were each decided by two points.
"We knew Galena would be tough. They're a good team," Fallon coach Derik Mullen said. "I'm proud of my girls ... they played well."
Fallon forced a fifth set after winning the fourth game. Fallon received good work at the net from Callie Black, but Galena's defense kept the set close. The set was marked by four ties until Chelsea Hejny frustrated Galena with her serving.
The Fallon junior recorded five points, while teammates Tosha Nunes and Bridgette Boswell provided timely hitting. Olivo later gave Fallon sustained serving with five points.
Galena became its own worst enemy, committing nine error in Fallon's 10-2 run to end the set.
The Grizzlies set the tone in the first set, coming back to take a 27-25 win after Fallon had led for most of the game.
Fallon led by no more than two points late in the set although Galena tied the Lady Wave six times. After Jeannie Gandolfo smacked a sizzling kill between the first and second rows, Fallon then committed two errors to end the game.
The Wave struggled on defense, allowing four return balls to drop behind the first row. Mullen said his players didn't respond well in moving toward the middle.
Fallon jumped on Galena in the second set for a 6-0 lead. Olivo had five service points, and Nunes had a kill and a well placed return. Nunes, who had 16 kills in her first match against Galena this season, led Fallon with 17 kills. Galena took a timeout to slow Fallon's momentum and gradually began a slow comeback to take the lead 13-12 after putting together an 11-5 run.
Outside hitter Nancy Burrow's kill gave Galena its biggest lead of the set, 17-14, before Fallon clawed back. The Wave tied the set at 22 and then struggled for the final three points.
The third set witnessed seven ties before the Grizzlies claimed the win.