MONTESANO — Elma dipped deeply into its emotional reserves — and its formidable power supply — to complete a season volleyball sweep of rival Montesano.

Sophomores Quin Mikel and Jalyn Sackrider put on a hitting clinic in the fifth set as the Eagles outlasted the Bulldogs, 25-15, 25-18, 23-25, 23-25, 15-10, in a dramatic Evergreen 1A League contest on Oct. 12 at Bo Griffith Memorial Gym.

Last month in Elma, the Eagles easily notched their first win over Montesano since 1999. When they trailed only once (at 3-2 in the second set) in taking the first two sets, the rematch appeared to a slightly more competitive reprise of the previous outing.

But covering the court very well, the Bulldogs rode the hitting of Lindsay Pace and McKenna Miller and the playmaking of Hannah Hatcher to take the next two sets.

The Eagles (5-0, 10-1) were two points from the match with a 23-22 lead in the third stanza. But Pace and Emma Jensen sandwiched kills around an Elma carrying violation to prolong matters.

Wild Sequence

Trailing by as many as nine points (at 16-7) in the fourth set, Elma rallied behind the serving of Baylee Crisp to seemingly tie it at 22 when a Bulldog spike sailed long. That call was reversed, however, when the Eagles were ruled to have touched the ball on its way out. Then Jensen served an apparent ace when the Eagles were discussing the situation with coach Kendra Henry.

After a discussion that lasted for the better part of 10 minutes, Montesano (3-2, 6-5) was eventually awarded the original disputed point, but Jensen’s serve was replayed. Sackrider won that point with a kill, but Hatcher eventually closed out the set moments later when she pushed a dump (a fake set) into the open court.

Perhaps drawing on their experience from recent five-set victories over Hoquiam and Forks, the Eagles appeared more focused as the deciding set opened. They cashed in on Monte errors and Sackrider hits in racing to a 6-1 lead.

Mikel was virtually unstoppable in the front row later in the set, delivering four consecutive kills to widen the gap to 13-6.

The Bulldogs countered with the next four points, a rally punctuated by Pace’s kill. But after Kenna Stoney’s winning tip gave Elma match point, the Bulldogs hit long to end it.

“Overall, it was a great team effort,” Henry said. “We all picked it up in the fifth game. We got our flow back.”

Mikel finished with 22 kills and 30 digs, while Sackrider added 14 kills. Stoney had 10 kills and 36 assists and Ana Perez 37 digs for Elma.

Henry also lauded the play of Crisp, who served three points in the final set.

Montesano setter Janessa Otterstetter was sidelined with a finger injury. Hatcher moved from libero to her previous setter’s role and dished out 26 assists. Mylaina Parker, who took over at libero, had 27 digs.

Pace topped Monte hitters with 11 kills and 21 digs. Miller chipped in six kills.

“I think they realized they were capable of better play,” Bulldog coach Renee Volz said of her team’s comeback.

The Bulldogs took the JV match, 25-22, 25-10.