If the first two games were any indication, the North Mahaska Warhawks were in line for a three-game sweep when they played host to the BGM Bears Wednesday night.

North Mahaska had easily taken game one 25-16 and game two 25-15. But something happened on the way to the winner’s circle and the Bears took the next two games 25-9 and 25-19 to force a fifth game.

The Warhawks shored up their defense and got a much better serving and hitting effort in game five to salt away the match with a 15-11 win.

“We played quite well in the first two games,” Warhawk coach Alisha Briggs said. “In the third and fourth games, they adjusted their defense and filled the holes much better. Their improved defense really forced us into a lot of errors. They were returning most everything we hit and we were not passing the ball well. We really need to work on our serve reception.”

In the deciding fifth game, the Warhawks broke away from a 5-5 deadlock on a hitting error by the Bears, a kill by Kate Ray and an ace serve by Allie Ferguson to gain an 8-5 lead. BGM tried to come back, but the Warhawks kept the pressure on at the net to put the game away. Another kill by Ray, a kill by Laura Baur, a pair of kills by Acacia LaRue and an ace serve by McKenzie Mitchell opened the lead to 14-9. The final nail was driven on a kill by Ferguson to seal the deal.

In game one, the Warhawks raced away to a 20-9 lead behind the serving of Dakota Little and LaRue and kills by Baur, Ferguson, Little and LaRue. Ray put down the final kill in a 25-16 win.

BGM got the jump in game two with an 11-6 lead, but the Warhawks rallied back for a 12-11 lead with Mitchell at the line. Three aces by Mitchell aided that run. LaRue served up eight consecutive points and Jenna Lacey three more to put game two in the win column for North Mahaska. Little had five kills in the closing rally.

BGM found the right combination in game three with Jessica Davidson at the line. She served up 15 points and four aces in the game and Jana Thompson did most of the damage at the line. In game four it was more of the same as the Bears dominated from the service line. And the Warhawks were their own worst enemy with numerous hitting errors and defensive problems.

LaRue led the Warhawks at the service line with 24-of-25 and four aces while Mitchell was 17-of-17 with five aces. Little topped the charts in kills with 12 while LaRue and Ferguson each had 11 and Baur added nine. Baur led in assists with 24 and Lacey dished out 20 assists. Baur dug up 27 balls and Little had 21 digs.

The Warhawks raise their South Iowa Cedar league record to 5-2 and will travel to Keota Monday night to continue SICL play.