The Bulldogs put together three very different sets on Monday evening against visiting Centralia.
Mexico showed flashes of brilliance the first, but the Panthers pulled away 25-16. The second …
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![Capri’Ona Fountain returns a ball during Monday night’s game. [Eric Mattson]](https://epsilon.creativecirclecdn.com/mexicoledger/original/20211011-094201-Mexico%20VB%20v%20Centralia%201.jpg)
The Bulldogs put together three very different sets on Monday evening against visiting Centralia.
Mexico showed flashes of brilliance the first, but the Panthers pulled away 25-16. The second was a 25-10 Centralia romp.
The finale was the Bulldogs perhaps not at their best or most fluid, but gritty and resilient, pushing the Panthers to an extra serve. The visitors had to earn their 3-0 sweep, 26-24.
"I was struggling today, I'm not going to lie," said setter Ally Wilson. "But we came out wanting to win."
With Wilson at the line to start the third set the Bulldogs pounced. She reeled off a run with an ace and some strong passing. Mexico was on top 5-0 before the Panthers Elly Crum killed the rally.
The Panthers clawed back, narrowing the gap. But Mexico continued to fend them off.
A Jessica Stephens one hander into open space, an Emily Nunan tap and some spirited play kept Centralia two to three points back.
But the Panthers proved equally relentless. A Claire Bennett ace knotted the score at 15-15. Moments later Crum and Baylee Beard won a battle at the net to put the visitors up 17-15.
"They were bigger, but we just dropped lower when passing," explained outside hitter Emily Moppin. "It was all energy."
With that energy the Bulldogs surged back. Stephens snatched a point back with a block. Mary Test forged a 3-0 run on two Centralia faults and an ace to the back corner.
Mexico was back in front 19-18.
Back and forth it went. A key save by Capri'ona Fountain kept the Bulldogs even at one point. A service ace from Aleigha Jackson tied things at 24-24.
A long volley followed that eventually fell Centralia's way. A Mexico fault ended the set and game.
The first set began much like the third ended. It was 4-4, 6-6, 7-8. Beard finally gave Centralia a small cushion that grew into a pillowy 15-8.
But Fountain and Wilson combined to stop the Panthers. It was 15-9 when Moppin stepped to the line.
Moppin fired a barrage of deep serves that beat Centralia's back line over and over. It was 15-13 by the time Mexico turned over the ball.
Suddenly, for the next set and a half, it was all Centralia.
"It all comes down to mentality," Moppin said.
