Mohall-Lansford-Sherwood (9-9, 3-3 District 12) took advantage by winning the first frame in a crucial Class B District 12 showdown in Des Lacs.

The Lakers (15-8, 5-1 District 12) showed no mercy from that point on, winning in four sets by scores of 18-25, 25-12, 25-14, 25-16.

“Through the first set, we kind of had a funk over us that we couldn’t break,” DLB head coach Tarra Hysjulien said. “Mohall was doing all the right things to make sure we couldn’t break out of it.”

The opening set was control by the Mavericks. DLB trimmed a 16-9 deficit to 19-15, but MLS wasn’t going to squander a golden opportunity to snatch a set on the road.

Alex Eisen/MDN DLB senior Kayli Olson (5) attacks the ball with MLS senior Leah Feland (4) attempting to put up a block Thursday evening during a District 12 volleyball match.

Freshman Allison Undlin provided the finishing touches on a 25-18 first set victory with an emphatic block on set point.

“Our demeanor, attitudes and excitement level changed,” Hysjulien said. “We started to play more with our shoulders up and ready to play.”

Flipping the script, the Lakers dictated the flow of the match in the second set. DLB, like MLS, even held a 16-9 lead at one point.

The Mavericks only managed three more points, as DLB cruised to a 25-12 win to even the match at one set apiece.

“In the first set, we slacked on talking and moving toward the ball,” DLB senior outside hitter Kayli Olson said. “After losing the first set, we realized what we needed to work on.”

The third set was last tied at 5-5 before DLB used a 10-1 run to pull away. The serving of junior setter Addyson Hughes kept the Mavericks’ offense pinned down. She finished with a match-high five aces.

“With every kill and every good play, we find momentum,” Hughes said. “Once we get talking and get going, everything becomes fun.”

While DLB rolled to another lopsided set win, 25-14, not everything was gloomy for the Mavericks. MLS senior Janie Savelkoul received a warm ovation for picking up her 1,000th career dig in the frame.

Savelkoul was one of four MLS players to finish with double-digits in digs: Autumn Smith (13), Leah Feland (10), Kylie Abernathey (10) and Savelkoul (10).

Savelkoul also finished with a team-high 13 kills, followed by Undlin (6) and Feland (5).

Hughes led the Lakers with eight digs to go with 38 assists. Olson (13 kills), sophomore Krysta Berard (10) and junior Zoey Reed (8) were on the receiving end of most of the assists.

“(Hughes) makes it so nice for our hitters to be able to approach hard because she sets the ball so consistently,” Hysjulien said. “Credit to our setter, and our hitters will tell you the same thing. She makes their life pretty nice.”

With all the momentum, DLB stormed out to an 8-1 lead in the fourth set. MLS had finally seen enough and called a timeout at 16-5 to regroup. But, the damage had already been done.

The Mavericks bravely fought back in the dying moments of the match to make the final set score more respectable at 25-16.

Yet, mission accomplished for DLB after a sluggish start.

“We either start off slow and realize what we have to work on and put the effort into it,” Olson said. “Or, we started off better and slow down. But, yeah, we don’t really start off that slow, usually.”

Next up, both teams are scheduled to play in the Northwest Conference Tournament being held Saturday in Stanley.

Alex Eisen covers Minot State athletics, the Minot Minotauros and high school sports. Follow him on Twitter @AEisen13.