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Mineral Point started strong and ended strong but the guts of the game kept people in their seats all night.
The Pointers won three matches to two for Iowa-Grant in an early SWAL showdown. With both teams tied going into the fifth game the Pointers survived 15-13.
"Emily Mitchell," Iowa-Grant coach Marla Simon said. "She is a player and made the difference. We may be a better team when it comes to being well rounded but when you have a player like Emily Mitchell, well she can carry you."
Mitchell swung her way to 26 kills to lead the Pointers and teammate Jordyn Philipps had 10.
The Panthers couldn't match Mitchell's output but got steady games from Jackie Olson and Kaci Myers with nine and eight kills.
The Pointers cruised in the opener to a 25-14 win behind several kills by Mitchell.
"We had problems figuring her out in the first game but did better after we adjusted," Simon said.
The Panthers won the next two, 25-23 and 26-24 before the Pointers got it back to even, 25-22.
That set up the fifth game that went to the Pointers, 15-13.
Simon said hitting by Kylie Moneypenny and Myers helped get the wins in games two and three.
"Jackie Olson served us out in game two with six straight," Simon said.
The play was back and forth all night between the two SWAL rivals.
Simon said Rachel McCoy's serving also helped the Pointers make some runs. McCoy got the Pointers to game point in the third game before two strong serves by Rheann Engelke got the Panthers the win.
The Panthers led 22-16 in the fourth game before McCoy served the Pointers back into it.
Simon said some errors with court awareness cost the Panthers in the fifth game. The Pointers took a 5-1 lead but Myers brought the Panthers back, But, the Pointers held on to win the match.
"Mineral Point will do well in conference," Simon said. "We had our moments but we are young and still a work in progress."
The Panthers are at Riverdale tonight then host Fennimore Tuesday.
STATS
Kills
MP-Mitchell 26, Philipps 10
IG-Olson 9, Myers 8
Blocks
MP-Natalie Chubb 2
IG-Moneypenny 2
Aces
MP-Paula Pittz 4
IG-Myers 4
Assists
MP-McCoy 36
IG-Emily Warne 26
Digs
IG-Olson 2, Engelke 2