KEOKUK — Fort Madison was three points away from winning the fourth game and the match in Tuesday’s Class 4A quarterfinal against Keokuk — and lost the game.
The Bloodhounds were six points away from elimination in the fifth and deciding game, and rallied to win the match.
It was a rollercoaster night for Fort Madison in the 25-20, 25-27, 25-23, 23-25, 15-11 win over the Chiefs, but the Bloodhounds’ season is still going.
Fort Madison (4-24) plays at No. 2 North Scott (30-5) on Thursday night in the semifinals.
The Bloodhounds stayed alive by putting their regular season behind them. Two of their losses came to the Chiefs.
“This meant a lot, since we had lost to them twice already,” said junior hitter Taylor Johnson, who led the Bloodhounds with 14 kills and nine blocks.
The postseason, Johnson said, was “kind of a fresh start.”
It was a constant battle with the Chiefs (10-19). Fort Madison had game point in the second game at 24-23, then fought off a game point down 25-24 with a Johnson block before giving up the last two points. Keokuk then fought off a game point at 24-22 in the third game before the Bloodhounds won to take a 2-1 lead.
The frustrating game was the fourth, when Fort Madison led 21-17 before the Chiefs scored the next four points. The Bloodhounds then led 22-21 before Keokuk scored the final four points.
“It was the same message — believe in yourself, believe in what we’re doing, have fun,” Fort Madison coach Kelly Knustrom said. “Whatever happens, play hard to the end.
“I’m quite proud of them. They never let up. They kept going at them.”
The Bloodhounds trailed 9-4 in the fifth game before rallying to tie the game at 10, and then 11. A Johnson block put them up 12-11, and they would score the final three points of the match, the last coming on a Johnson kill.
“We just had to get the energy back up and get a rally going,” Johnson said.
“She played great tonight,” Knustrom said of Johnson. “Her blocking, we’ve been working on that a lot. That’s one part of the game that she’s been wanting to elevate. It felt good to put some balls back at them tonight.”
The Bloodhounds got contributions from everyone.
• Aija Jenkins had 11 kills
• Dayonna Davis had seven kills and three blocks
• Lauryn Helmick had five kills and two blocks, adding three aces.
• Lexi Beebe served 11-of-13, with one ace and nine digs
• Isabella Boeding served 19-of-20 with two aces, adding 11 digs
• Dalaney Walker served 14-of-15 with two aces.
• Amy Yasenchok served 13-of-14 and had 25 digs
• Elle Ruble added 22 digs.
• Molly Knipe had 23 assists and four aces.
• Mara Smith had 16 assists.
“They executed the game plan pretty well,” Knustrom said. “I’m super-proud of them.”
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