It was a mixed bag for the Hot Springs volleyball team this past weekend as they split a pair of home games in Western 14C conference play.

Hot Springs opened their week with a tough contest against rival St. Regis, a match that would go the full five sets before a victor emerged.

And that victory, unfortunately for the home fans, was the Lady Tigers from St. Regis, who cruised into town in second place in the conference with a 3-2 record.

When the dust and popcorn settled, the Tigers escaped with a tense, hard-fought 3-2 match road victory.

Hot Springs looked good in the opening minutes of play Thursday night, jumping to an early lead, then steadily pulling away from the visiting Tigers.

The won the first game 25-16 to grab a 1-0 lead in the match. And the Lady Savage Heat took a step toward wrapping up a sweep when they captured game two, 25-21, to go up 2-0 in the match.

But someone forgot to tell St. Regis it was useless and they mounted an immediate and spirited comeback beginning with a 25-23 win in the pivotal set number three.

Buoyed by their success, the Lady Tigers put the pedal to the metal and proceeded to tie the match at two sets each with a 25-17 game four win.

In the fifth and deciding game, St. Regis broke ahead from the start and had enough uumph to hold off all Hot Springs’ rallies as the Lady Tigers finished off their stunned hosts, not to mention the home town fans, with a 15-8 win that clinched a 3-2 match victory.

The loss dropped Hot Springs to 1-3 in conference play and 2-4 overall.

The next evening, redemption was most likely on the Lady Heats’ minds as they bolted out to a commanding early lead in the first set against Noxon, then won the opening set 25-11. They followed that with a convincing 25-12 win in set two to take a solid 2-0 match lead.

But Noxon reached deep in the third game and completely dominated the action on their way to a 25-6 win that brought them within one set of the match lead at 2-1.

However, Hot Springs seemed determined not to get swept at home for the weekend and put an end to Noxon’s comeback hopes with a 25-21 game four win that gave them the 3-1 match victory.

The win upped Hot Springs conference mark to 3-4, while the loss dropped the Lady Red Devils to an identical 3-4, 14C record.

Hot Springs now has a pair of road games this week as they journey to Two Eagle River for a game Tuesday evening for a meeting with the Lady Eagles. They return to the road two nights later for a Saturday match in Charlo against the Lady Vikings.

St. Regis has a home game with Alberton this Thursday as its only game of the week.