HUNTER (NewsDakota)- There is a lot to like about three-class volleyball, not the least of which is the season-ending challenge games that decide the final spots at the state tournament.  And if Tuesday night was a potential preview of that, it could be really special in 2025.

The fourth-ranked Northern Cass Jaguars rallied from a two sets to one deficit to defeat the Carrington Cardinals 3-2 (25-21, 17-25, 21-25, 25-22, 17-15) at home on Tuesday night in a match that did not feel like an early season tussle.

After the teams split the first four points of the match, Northern Cass (5-1) went on a 9-0 run to take control of the opening set, with Macy Murch serving dominantly during the run.  But Carrington (2-1) settled in and during the second and third sets, they responded with their upperclassmen Calleigh Hewitt and Harper Kollman attacking well for a 2-1 lead.

In the fourth set, the Cards had a 20-16 lead before Tess Jalbert served out the set with the final five points.  The decisive set went back and forth, with the Jags staving off two match points and the Cardinals staving one off at 15-14.  But back-to-back kills polished off the comeback for the Region 1 outfit.

Carrington will take part in the Valley City tournament on Saturday and have been placed in a pool with Oakes and Medina/Pingree-Buchanan.