MONTE VISTA – The sixth-ranked Sanford High School volleyball team got off to a slow start when it faced Monte Vista Thursday at the MVHS gym. However, the Mustangs had a strong finish as they defeated the Pirates in five sets.

Monte Vista won the first set 25-18, but Sanford won the second 25-22. The Pirates took the third set 25-23, but the Mustangs won the final two sets by scores of 25-13 and 15-9.

“It all about heart and grit right there,” said Sanford coach Melissa Faucette.

“We did come out to a strong start and just gave it up,” said Monte Vista coach Monica Hinds. “We’ll be ready for the next time we play them.”

The Pirates jumped to a 4-1 lead to start the first set, but the Mustangs closed the lead to 4-3. The teams then exchanged 2-0 runs before Monte Vista went on a 6-1 run to take a 12-6 advantage.

Sanford responded with a 5-0 run to reduce its deficit to 12-11. The teams then traded the next five side outs before the Pirates had a 9-4 run to take a 22-16 lead.

The Mustangs closed to within 24-19, however, they committed a hitting error to give the first set to the Pirates 25-19.

Monte Vista had another 4-1 start to begin the second set. Sanford, however, scored five points in a row to take a 6-4 lead.

The Pirates came back to tie the score at 8-8, but the Mustangs regained the lead at 10-8. Monte Vista tied the score at 11-11, but Sanford took a 13-11 edge.

The Pirates then went on a 4-1 run to regain the lead at 15-14. The mustangs took the lead back at 16-15, and after the teams exchanged the next four side outs, Sanford went on a 5-2 run to take a 22-19 lead.

Monte Vista came back to tie the score at 22-22, but Sanford scored the final three points for a 25-22 win.

The Mustangs took a 3-0 lead to open the third set, but the Pirates deadlocked the score at 3-3. Sanford regained the lead at 6-3 before Monte Vista scored five consecutive points for an 8-6 lead.

The Mustangs scored three unanswered points to take the lead back at 9-8. But the Pirates went on a 6-2 run for a 14-11 advantage.

Sanford answered with a 5-0 run to regain the lead at 16-14. It extended the lead to 18-15 before the teams exchanged the next five side outs. Monte Vista then went on a 5-0 run for as 22-20 lead.

The teams finished the set by trading side outs with Monte Vista winning 25-23.

Sanford came out strong for the fourth set by taking a 9-1 lead. Monte Vista closed the margin to 12-6 before the Mustangs went on a 6-1 run to increase their lead to 18-7.

The Pirates narrowed their deficit to 19-11, however, the Mustangs went on a 6-0 run for a 24-11 advantage. Monte Vista scored two points in a row, but Claire Crowther slammed a kill to give Sanford a 25-13 win.

The Mustangs scored the first three points of the fifth set, but the Pirates knotted the score at 3-3. Sanford answered with a 4-0 run to take a 7-3 lead, and it extended the lead to 9-4.

Monte Vista closed to within 9-6, but the Mustangs pushed the lead to 13-7. The Pirates scored two points, but Sanford scored the final two for a 15-9 win.

Avery Koenig led the Sanford offense with 36 assists. Crowther led the hitting game with 14 kills, followed by Bella Peterson with 12, Koenig with seven, and Jewel Caldon and Rose Schwartz both with six.

The Mustangs also served up 18 aces. Schwartz led with nine, followed by Peterson with five, and Koenig and Crowther both with two.

The Monte Vista offense was led by Evie Hinds with 22 assists. Janessa Marquez was the hitting leader with 13 kills, followed by Reagan Futrell with eight, Destiny Pacheco with seven, and Hannah Henderhan and Madison Henderhan both with five.

The Pirates had 11 aces and were led by Futrell with five, Madison Henderhan with three, and Krissa Padilla with two.

Sanford ends the season with 19 wins and three losses and it was 6-0 in Southern Peaks League play. It will await the postseason where it may have a home court for a regional tournament.

“That’s our plan,” Faucette said. “We’re ready to go tackle that next.”

Monte Vista (11-6, 3-3) is at the Buena Vista Invitational this weekend.

“We’ll play two 3A teams and two 2A teams and we should do well,” coach Hinds said.

The Pirates will also wait for the postseason when it will travel to a regional tournament.