West Lafayette overtakes Frontier in five games

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CHALMERS -- West Lafayette's volleyball team could have buckled trailing Frontier 2-0 on the road Monday night.

But those who remembered last year's match against Benton Central knew it was not over. That night, the Red Devils rallied to defeat the Bison. On Frontier's home floor, they did it again.

West Lafayette dominated Game 3 and carried that momentum to a 23-25, 15-25, 25-15, 25-22, 15-9 win over the Class A No. 10 Falcons. It was Frontier's first loss on its home floor this season.

"We knew after that third game we were able to compete with them and it was our game to win," said junior Becca Mimms, who had 13 kills, 11 digs and three aces.

After winning its first 19 matches to start the season, Frontier has now lost two of its last four, including a 2-0 loss to Logansport in the Clinton Central Invitational Saturday.

"Everybody says going into sectional that you want to have a loss or two," Frontier coach Shelly Pullins said. "I don't know, but I think it's good to see the things that's happened today and Saturday because it shows us what we need to work on.

"I think it's good to be brought down to Earth and see there's teams out there that can beat us."

The Falcons (21-2) almost topped the Red Devils.

Kattie Lee's ace put Frontier ahead 22-17 in Game 4, but an error on her next serve opened the door for WL.

The Red Devils rolled off eight straight points to force a Game 5. Katy Brose served two of her team-high seven aces during the run.

Mimms, who said in the preseason that Frontier was a match they considered to be an easy win, had three late kills in Game 5 to seal the victory. Mimms took advantage of Frontier's rotation, which sent 6-foot-1 Jenna Sullivan into the back row after the Falcon junior had two solo blocks early in the set.

"They have improved immensely (since last year)," Mimms said. "We didn't expect at the beginning to the year that they would be great competition, but they showed us wrong."

Mimms' 13th kill provided the match's final point and secured a great comeback win for the Red Devils (17-7).

"It was one of those moments where you say, 'That's what I practice for,' " Mimms said.

Frontier jumped ahead behind the strong play of Lee.

Lee collected a triple-double with 20 kills, 19 digs and 10 aces. Jesah Marlatt added 10 kills.

"She's a kid that takes 80 percent of their ball control. She serves, she passes, she hits," WL coach Chad Marshall said. "Obviously they have a couple kids that take a huge serve receiving load. If you are lucky enough to have kids who serve away from (Lee), it makes life a little easier."

Sarah Collicott had nine kills and Brose added 21 digs to her seven aces. Tasha Baker exited the match early with an injury, but returned to give the Red Devils a boost with seven kills, 10 digs and three aces.