For the record, Thursday night’s match will go down in the books as a sweep, but it was about as tight as it could get at the Christian School Gym.

Herreid-Selby Area turned back Aberdeen Christian 28-26, 25-22, 25-19 to collect a non-conference volleyball victory in a match that featured multiple twists and turns. In the end, the Wolverines found enough answers to finish off each set.

“We were trying to find holes, and they adapted to our balls,” said HSA coach Maria Sandmeier. “We were swinging cross court and eventually that was covered, and we started swinging down the line and that was covered, too. They’re a very competitive team. … We’re just lucky we came out on top tonight.”

The Wolverines had the advantage in the opening set, leading 16-10 and later 20-17 before the Knights stormed back. Christian went on a 7-1 run to secure three set points at 24-21. However, the visitors fought off each one. Christian had another set point at 25-24, but HSA eventually claimed the extra-point set at 28-26.

“We made some good plays. Pausha Meidinger had some really good swings down the line,” Sandmeier said. “Aberdeen Christian gave us a couple of chances there making a couple of errors at the end of the first set, otherwise it could have gone both ways. They were scrambling. They were tough to score on.”

Christian coach Sara Powell was pleased with her team’s defensive effort the entire evening.

“I told the girls defensively, they did really well,” Powell said. “Ali (Isakson) had 41 digs, and then Sawyer (Schwan) 14, and Payton (Skarin) 11, and then there’s three girls with 10. Defensively they played really well.”

While it appeared the Wolverines had the momentum after the first set, Christian bolted out to a 6-0 advantage to start the second set.

“That was good going into the second set, but then we kind of fell apart in the second set in the beginning,” Meidinger said. “But again, we came together and we said we need to focus, we need to all work together.”

Herreid-Selby Area quickly evened the score and the set was a battle the rest of the way. The Wolverines gradually built a late lead, and Christian saved three sets points before coming up short.

“These girls aren’t going to give up. They’re super athletic and aggressive,” Powell said. “There’s just some kinks that we have to work out.”

Christian sophomore Jolie Fogarty was a force at the net all match for the Knights.

“It’s a lot of pressure when you’re an outside, and you just kind of know the ball is coming to you,” Fogarty said. “You just need to get it over every time.”

Fogarty, who led the Knights with 10 kills, was a setter last season and is adjusting to her new role this fall. She said her prior experience as a setter gives her a different perspective as a hitter.

“It’s been really different, because I was a setter last year,” Fogarty said. “I think being a setter and transitioning back to outside, that just helps me take smarter shots, and just think about different things to do.”

It also helps her to know what the other team is attempting to do.

“I think it’s easier for me to read the other setters as a former setter,” Fogarty said.

The final set was another close one with the scored being tied 11 times, the latest at 18-18 before HSA once again pulled away to complete the sweep.

Meidinger played a key role. She finished with nine kills and was a force from the service line. The senior said the team makes serving a priority in practice.

“It’s one of our main focuses,” Meidinger said, “because getting the team out of system from the start from the serve is one of the most important things.”

Sandmeier said Meidinger does whatever it takes to help the team to be successful.

“She’s got the heart of a fighter. … She places those balls and she finds a way to score,” Sandmeier said.

Jordyn Rossow topped the Wolverines with 10 kills. Herreid-Selby Area improved to 4-1 on the year and got back on track following a five-set loss to Mobridge-Pollock on Tuesday.

“It’s super huge, especially because of our loss on Tuesday,” Meidinger said of her team’s latest victory. “We really needed this win this week.”

Ari Johnson added eight kills and a pair of ace serves to the Christian total.

The Knights are 0-2 on the season after playing two high-quality foes in Warner and Herreid-Selby Area. Christian returns to action tonight when its hosts Sunshine Bible Academy.

“I’m super proud of the girls. They’ve come a long ways,” Powell said. “If they continue to work hard and work together as a team they’ll be good.”

Serving: Herreid-Selby Area (Steph Allbee 10-12 4 aces, Jordyn Rossow 9-11 2 aces, Katie Allbee 10-11 2 aces); Aberdeen Christian (Sawyer Schwan 2 aces, Ari Johnson 2 aces).

Hitting: Herreid-Selby Area (Rossow 32-36 10 kills, Pausha Meidinger 20-21 9 kills); Aberdeen Christian (Jolie Fogarty 10 kills, Johnson 8 kills, Sophie Glynn 5 kills).

Setting: Herreid-Selby Area (Allbee 76-76 16 assists, Meidinger 44-44 8 assists); Aberdeen Christian (Schwan 22 assists, Ali Isakson 3 assists).

Digs: Herreid-Selby Area (Allbee 23, Breanna Jochim 19, Meidinger 18); Aberdeen Christian (Isakson 41, Schwan 14, Payton Skarin 11).

Blocks: Herreid-Selby Area 3 solo (Rossow 2, Brandi Beitelspacher 1); Aberdeen Christian 2 solo (Johnson 1, Sophia Eichler 1).

Records: Herreid-Selby Area 4-1; Aberdeen Christian 0-2.