By DREW GRANTHUM/Sports Writer

While it will go down in the books as a 3-0 sweep by Indian Springs, the Sept. 24 matchup between ISS and Montevallo was anything but a blowout.

Each set was a back and forth affair, with the lead swapping hands four times in the first set alone. Montevallo opened with a 2-1 lead, but Indian Springs roared back, taking an 11-7 lead at one point. Montevallo closed the gap, taking a 19-18 lead late in the set. It wasn’t meant to be, as ISS used a 6-4 run to take the set, 25-22.

Montevallo started strong again in the second set, racing out to a 7-3 lead to start. Indian Springs trailed by as many as six before a seven-point run gave ISS a 13-12 lead. Montevallo fought back, seizing a 14-13 lead, but couldn’t hold on as ISS took a 25-23 win in the set.

The third set kept the intensity level high, as the two squads swapped the lead six times through the final set. With the game tied at 17, Indian Springs went on a 4-0 run to open a 21-17 lead. It proved to be the difference in the set, as ISS took it 25-21. The win gave ISS the 3-0 win in the match as well.

“Our girls played for every point,” head coach Christina Tetzlaff. “It was a tough win for us.”

Despite the loss, Montevallo head coach Tena Niven said she was happy with the effort.

“We’ve gotten better since the last time we played them,” she said. “To play them as tough as we did, I feel good about the upcoming area tournament.”

Margot Balliet had 15 kills, 10 aces and three digs, Stella Davis had 11 kills and five digs and an ace, while Alex Smith 28 assists for Indian Springs.

For Montevallo, McKenna Anderson had 10 kills and 15 digs, Hope Wilder had 10 assists and Kerrington Maddox had six kills.

ISS moves to 6-0 in area play, while MHS falls to 3-3.