(Underwood) - The Treynor Cardinals rallied from a 2-1 deficit to defeat Tri-Center in five sets, winning the Western Iowa Conference consolation match, 25-17, 22-25, 21-25, 25-15, 15-12.

The victory moved Treynor to 22-8 on the season as Head Coach Lea Keysor has the Cardinals continuing their prep for postseason play.

Treynor controlled the opening set, building an early lead and pulling away for a 25-17 win.

However, Tri-Center responded in the second, overcoming a 21-18 deficit to win 25-22 behind a strong stretch from Tess Casey and late serving from Terilyn Leaders.

The Trojans carried that momentum into the third set, building an early advantage and leading by as many as eight points, claiming the set 25-21 to take a 2-1 advantage.

The Cardinals did not need to overhaul their approach after dropping the second and third sets.

Instead, the focus was on staying the course, with maintaining intensity and finishing points with that balanced front line attack.

“We were doing great things offensively,” Keysor said. “We were adjusting defensively. We just didn't finish. We just let them steal the momentum.”

Treynor answered emphatically in the fourth set, racing to a early lead before extending the margin to double digits, and closing out a dominant 25-15 victory to force a decisive fifth set.

The Cardinals ended with four players with double digit kills, with Rylee Hemmingsen eventually leading the Cardinals with 13 kills, but for a portion of the night it was other players on the front line like Izzy Vorthmann and Brylee Paulsen getting kills in big moments.

“We knew we were getting quiet, and we were having that moment where we were just going downhill,” Vorthmann said. “It was really important for us to focus on coming back up instead of getting down and getting stuck where we couldn't push back up.”

“Rylee's our big go-to. They know that,” Keysor said. “But I feel like it's changing just a little bit. Our right sides get a lot of love, and our middles are finally kind of starting to come into the game, too.”

Treynor carried that renewed energy into the final set, opening with a quick lead on Hemmingsen's hot hand in that moment for the Cardinals balanced attack. 

"We had a really good front row and really anyone can get a kill, and coaches said keep on attacking, get points where we can get them," said Paulsen.

Tri-Center continued to battle, cutting into the deficit and making it a one-point contest at 13-12 before Treynor secured the 15-12 win.

“I think this win can definitely help us to know that when we're down, we can still push through it and still win,” Paulsen said.

Vorthmann had some big moments in the middle sets and her performance stood out as the sophomore continues to develop into a bigger offensive contributor.

“Izzy stepped up huge,” Keysor said. “She's kind of that sneaky one. I feel like not everyone expects some of those as hard hits as she has because she's just really coming into her own in her sophomore year here.”

The victory provides Treynor with momentum heading into Saturday's Lewis Central tournament before the Cardinals turn their attention to postseason competition next week.

“I think just getting better at the things that we're not good at yet,” Keysor said. “Trying to find those things defensively, like we're kind of sliding in and out of transition. Are we going to do better as the rallies go on?”

After the Lewis Central Tournament, Treynor will face Creston in the Class 3A Region 1 Quarterfinal on Tuesday to start postseason play.

Tri-Center will host the winner of AHSTW versus MVAOCOU on Thursday at home for their Class 2A Region 2 Quarterfinal.

Treynor stats- 

Rylee Hemmingsen - 13 kills

Addison Mauer - 10 kills

Brylee Paulsen - 10 kills

Izzy Vorthmann - 10 kills

Tri-Center stats - 

Tess Casey - 19 kills

Terilyn Leaders - 9 kills

For full interview with Izzy Vorthmann, Brylee Paulsen, and Head Coach Lea Keysor, click and watch below.