After the first game of this unofficial rivalry clash, it looked like it was going to be one of those matches.

And that’s what St. Regis’ 3-1 volleyball win over host Hot Springs turned out to be, despite the deceptive final score.

With a loud crowd cheering on both teams, Hot Springs jumped out to an early first set lead, holding a lead that ranged from five to six points most of the way. However, the Lady Tigers stayed close enough to begin whittling away at the lead as both teams delighted the nearly full house with long vollies and spectacular digs.

St. Regis eventually caught the Lady Heat and tied the score at 21, then went ahead for the first time in the opening set, 23-22.

The score was tied two more times before St. Regis managed to pull ahead and secure the opening set with a very hard-fought 28-26 win and a 1-0 match lead.

Hot Springs opened the second set with a quick 4-1 lead, but the Tigers once again fought back tying the score at four each in a set that saw the set tied six more times before Hot Springs put together a string of unanswered points on their way to a 25-18 set two win, knotting the match at one set apiece.

The third set proved to be nearly identical to the second set with Hot Springs grabbing an early lead that at one point reached 7-1. Once more, St. Regis rallied and tied the score at nine as the two squads traded leads and played even six more times before the Lady Tigers went up 18-17, then stretched the lead to 23-17 before putting Hot Springs away 25-17, giving St. Regis a 2-1 match advantage.

With crowd noise reaching high decibel levels, St. Regis took a 7-4 lead in set number four, then held on as Hot Springs fought back and tied the set at 8. However, this time St. Regis was able to quickly regain the lead and steadily pulled away from the Lady Heat on their way to a 25-15 fourth set win that sealed the match for the Lady Tigers at 3-1.

Several players had outstanding games on both sides of the net. The home team Heat got nine service aces, four kills, two blocks and two digs from sophomore Kara Christensen. Lauryn Aldridge, the only senior on the young Heat team, added three aces, nine kills, one block and three digs for Hot Springs, while junior Brooke Jackson had two kills, 11 assists, one block and one dig.

Georgia Uski also had a solid match for Hot Springs with five aces, three kills, one block and eight digs.

No individual stats were listed for St. Regis players.

St. Regis has two road games scheduled this week, beginning Thursday night in Alberton, then moving to Noxon Saturday night for a meeting with the Lady Devils.

Hot Springs, meanwhile, is at home Tuesday, September 5 against Seeley.