By MATT KING
Daily Journal Sports Writer

Published: Thursday, September 10, 2009
Updated: Thursday, September 10, 2009 12:08 PM CDT

PARK HILLS — The Mineral Area College volleyball program has gradually reduced the gap between itself and longtime nemesis Jefferson in recent years, despite having an empty win column to show for the effort.

On Wednesday night, the Lady Cardinals continued that trend with their most valiant challenge to date before an increasingly vocal home crowd, only to watch a promising comeback turn quickly into frustration.

Thais Soares capped a frenetic finish by smashing three consecutive kills from the left side, and Jefferson turned away five game points with a potential fifth stanza looming for a 25-18, 19-25, 25-18, 29-27 win.

Tori Akrie knocked down 15 kills and Soares tallied 14 in the victory. Elizabeth Reid added further balance at the net for Jefferson (3-5) with nine kills, and led all players with eight blocks.

A tireless defensive effort helped Mineral Area (10-3) counter the taller front row of the Lady Vikings with several scoring spurts in game four, just as Jefferson (3-5) threatened to seize lasting control of the match.

Monika Barros de Alcantara gave MAC a sudden 20-16 lead with an ace after her previous serve resulted in an ideal overpass. The sophomore from Brazil then restored a 23-20 margin with a cross-court laser after Jefferson rallied to even the score.

Anna Laitinen brought the host club within one point of a decisive final game when her spike deflected through a double-block, but Mineral Area failed to muster a forceful attack during the next three paramount rallies.

A missed serve nullified the next game point at 26-26 after a one-handed dig by libero Kelsey Davault yielded another kill from Laitinen, and Soares punctuated the win for Jefferson with a powerful swing down the line.

”The energy was definitely there tonight, but we just made too many little mistakes to win,” said fourth-year MAC coach Tim Copeland. “We needed to be more aggressive at times, and that cost us against a good team.”

Mineral Area switched to a new offense after playing a weekend tournament in Illinois, featuring freshman Tisha Meyer as the primary setter while giving Laitinen an increased attacking role on the outside.

Laitinen paced the Lady Cardinals with 15 kills and Meyer compiled 31 assists as a result. Rachel Kleekamp contributed four of her nine kills during a third game that saw MAC briefly surge ahead at 11-9.

Setter Ashley Jenson amassed 47 assists and Gabby Schmitz made 13 digs for Jefferson, which responded with a series of strong kills from Akrie before scoring five of its first nine points on stuff-blocks in game four.

Kleekamp answered with a pivotal kill that sparked a five-point streak for MAC, and middle blocker Kelly Kosmopolis made it 10-10 with a clean rejection.

Barros de Alcantara terminated a spirited rally moments later that saw Meyer and Davault prolong the action with difficult digs, and the stage was set for a dramatic conclusion.

The Lady Cardinals trailed throughout the opening game, and the margin reached its maximum at 22-14 when a received serve dropped untouched between three players.

Mineral Area benefited from six Jefferson hitting errors and four Laitinen kills during in game two. A dominant 10-4 scoring stretch gave momentum to the Lady Cardinals following a 15-15 tie.

Kosmopolis made five blocks overall with Haley Motley adding four, and Davault finished with 20 digs for the MAC defense.

The contest marked the Region XVI opener for both schools. MAC will meet Lake Land at the Sechrest Fieldhouse on Friday night.