WEIRTON – The Madonna volleyball team showed it can play from out in front and from behind against Toronto.

The Blue Dons built an advantage in the first game and had to come from behind in the second. Madonna came up a little short in the third game before fighting off a set point and scoring the final three points of the fourth game to pull out a 25-20, 25-21, 22-25, 27-25 victory against the Red Knights Monday evening on Joanna Bernabei-McNamee Court inside the Bill Barrett Gymnasium.

“We have worked on changing our mindset,” Madonna (8-3) head coach Jaedyn Hissam said. “Madonna, the past several years, has not had a mindset of success. We are trying to change that mindset. The girls had to fight for the win. The dug deep, and they never gave up.”

After losing the first two sets, the Red Knights stormed back and won the third one to pull to within, 2-1, in the match. Toronto appeared to be on the verge of drawing evening as it had a set point, however, the girls in white were able to regroup and score the final three points of the game to win the match, 3-1.

“We dug ourselves too deep of a hole in the first and second sets,” first-year Toronto (4-4) head coach Shannon Bahen said. “It was self-inflicted. Give credit to Madonna. They are good in the middle. They play quick, and we were not prepared for that. That falls directly on me. A lot of it was self-inflicted. Madonna is a good team. You learn by playing good teams.”

Individually for Madonna, Geena Birkhimer recorded nine kills, one assist, two aces and six digs, Rylee Birkhimer collected 19 kills, one ace and 12 digs and Sophie Brady delivered 35 assists, three aces and four digs. Also, Lacy Quering contributed three kills, one assist and one dig, Madi Owens tallied eight kills and 15 digs and Breea Birkhimer produced one ace and seven digs. Next, Dabyka DeCaria chipped in with 12 digs, Abigail Boyd ended up with six kills and Taylor Birkhimer picked up five digs. Finally, Peyton Conley finished with three digs.

“They mixed the ball around,” Bahen said. “I would like to see the number of digs they had because the number is up there. They played quick sets. They kept us in our toes.”

For Toronto, Gracee Rex recorded 36 digs, seven assists and 10 points, JJ Rebich contributed 18 assists, nine points and three kills and Chloe Fisher finished with seven blocks, three kills and nine digs. Also, Jayna Reeves collected nine kills and seven points, Kylie Mitchell tallied seven blocks and six kills and Emma Parello produced three kills and four blocks. Finally, Sydney Fisher delivered five kills.

“Honestly, I did not know what to expect from them,” Hissam said. “They have a new head coach. They are a very good team. They are the best team we have played in our last few matches. I was impressed with them. We will see them again. It is not going to be easy.”

The hosts built a 21-11 advantage in Game 1. The visitors respond with a run and closed to within 22-17 resulting in Hissam calling a timeout. The girls from Jefferson County closed to within four points before Madonna was able to secure the victory in the game to take a 1-0 lead in the match.

The girls from the Gem City got off to a good start in Game 2 as they built a 7-1 advantage, however, the girls from Hancock County battled back and evened the score at 9. Toronto regrouped and scored the next four points to take a 13-9 lead, but a by Madonna gave the Blue Dons a 22-21 lead forcing Bahen to call a timeout. The Red Knights were unable to turn the tide as the Blue Dons won the game by four to take a 2-0 lead.

Toronto got off to another good start in Game 3. This time, the Red and White built an 8-4 advantage before taking a 15-6 lead. Their advantage increased to 22-10 forcing Hissam to call a timeout. Down by 12 points, the victors refused to throw in the towel in the game as they stormed back and closed to within 24-22 before the girls in red recorded the final point of the game to pull within 2-1 in the match.

“There are peaks and valleys in the game,” Bahen said. “We had some really, really highs and some really, really lows. You saw both of them tonight. The girls played hard. Give Madonna credit. They were the better team tonight.”

The home team took a 4-1 lead in Game 4, and they extended their advantage to 11-7 before the Red Knights rallied to knot the score at 13. Madonna responded and regained the lead. The Blue Dons built a 19-14 advantage before the girls in red responded and tied the score at 20.

The Blue Dons regained the lead, and they found themselves one point away from the winning match before Toronto countered by scoring the next four points to go up by one and give the Red Knights a chance to draw even in the match. The visiting side had an opportunity to do that, however, the were unsuccessful and Madonna delivered the next three points to win the game and the match.

“Toronto is a very good team,” Hissam said. “This why you play volleyball. I think playing these matches. I call them dogfights. We were two heavyweights throwing punches. We were up by 10 and we were down 10. Toronto is gritty team.”

Both teams are scheduled to play Wednesday.

Madonna is scheduled to Brooke and Linsly in a tri-match starting at 5:30 p.m. inside the Brooke Wellness Center. Toronto is slated to play rival Wellsville at 6 p.m. in a varsity-only match inside the George J. Kunzler Memorial Gymnasium.