LA JARA — After a close five sets, Centauri relented to visiting Lamar Thursday in a 3-2 match.

The Falcons (5-4) broke a cold streak last weekend during their home triangular. The five-set loss to Alamosa at the beginning of the weekend made it four in a row dating back to the Lewis-Palmer Tournament the weekend before. A 3-1 win over Montezuma-Cortez provided a much-needed notch in the ‘W’ column. Thursday night the Falcons welcomed Lamar (8-2) to La Jara for a non-league meeting. Lamar opened the season 1-2, since then they went on a 7 game tear entering Thursday’s contest.

It looked like Centauri had the upper hand when the match got underway, pacing the visitors to a 25-19 finish capped by a kill from Ashtyn Haslett to open with a one-set lead.

Lamar’s Maddy Williams became a major factor in the sets to come. At 6’2” Williams effectively closed half the net. Lamar began controlling the pace of the game forcing Centauri to react, making it hard to set up attacks. With the Falcons on the defensive, Lamar turned the tide.

Two straight sets went to Lamar, winning 25-20 and 25-23, putting Centauri’s backs squarely to the wall in the fourth frame.

Centauri made the necessary adjustments to Lamar’s Williams in the fourth frame and put together a solid set in response. An early run put Centauri up 7-2.  Lamar would answer with their own rally to take the lead 10-8. After an error gave the Falcons the serve back, Centauri would go on a 5-point run to go up 14-10. Plus the side-out, the 6 point rally was the largest of the set. Centauri and Lamar began trading side outs to the setpoint, where Dynea Johnson would register the final kill for Centauri to send the match to a fifth set.

In the final set Centauri couldn’t score with Lamar and would relent a 15-8 set to the visitors closing the match 3-2. Centauri won’t have to wait long for a chance to cleanse their palate. The Falcons will welcome Pagosa Springs (3-6) for a home league match on Saturday the 28th at 6 p.m.