The latest in a string of five-set volleyball matches to grip the area was a back and forth jousting match between visiting Hot Springs and the Lady Tigers from Darby.

In what was their third five set match of the year, the Lady Savage Heat made it two-for-three in matches that have gone the distance this year when they emerged with a 3-2 victory over the home standing Darby squad.

Darby opened the match with a hard-fought 25-19 win in the opening set before Hot Springs turned the tables and squared the match at one set each with their own 25-19 win in the second set.

Darby then captured the pivotal set number three, 25-17, putting them ahead 2-1. But Hot Springs found the energy it needed to battle back and squared the matched at two sets each with a 25-14 game four win.

That set up another five-game match for Hot Springs, which controlled game five early, then held on for a 15-8 road win over the 4-11 Darby Lady Tigers.

The win boosted Hot Springs to 7-7 over all this season as they prepare for the District 14C post-season tournament this weekend in Ronan.

MEANWHILE THIS WEEK, Top-ranked Bigfork traveled to Plains this past Tuesday for a Western 7B match with the Trotters and came away with a 3-0 sweep of a Plains team still looking for it’s first match win of the year.

Plains showed tenacity amid it’s youth in the opening set, pushing the unbeaten Valkyries throughout the game before succumbing 25-20. Bigfork kicked things up a notch in set two, winning 25-15 to take a commanding 2-0 match lead.

The visitors wrapped up the sweep with a 25-20 third set win over the scrappy Trotters who simply could not match Bigfork’s strength at the net.