By MATT KING
Daily Journal Sports Writer

Published: Friday, October 16, 2009
Updated: Thursday, October 15, 2009 11:46 AM CDT

HILLSBORO, Mo. — The Mineral Area College volleyball team nearly forced a fifth game against Region XVI power Jefferson after recovering from a ragged start on Wednesday night.

The Lady Cardinals rallied from a potential straight-game sweep and erased a six-point deficit in game four on the road, surging ahead 21-20 on a middle stuff-block from freshman Kelly Kosmopolis.

But sophomore Elizabeth Reid connected deep with a tying diagonal kill on the ensuing serve, then rejected a final Mineral Area attack on match point as the Vikings earned a 25-13, 25-20, 21-25, 25-22 victory.

Jefferson (16-8) controlled the early stages of game four to build an 11-5 cushion, but MAC (19-7) kept several rallies alive with active defense, which resulted in increased attacks down the stretch.

Rachel Kleekamp and Anna Laitinen each terminated back-to-back points to lead the comeback charge, and the Lady Cardinals stood three away from taking the stanza when Tisha Meyer quickly short-set Kosmopolis at 22-21.

The Vikings regained the lead, however, when a Mineral Area spike landed wide by inches, and Thais Soares introduced match point for the host club with a blistering smash from the left side.

Jefferson setter Ashley Jenson spread 44 assists to a balanced group of attackers. Soares pounded a team-high 16 kills and Stephanie Mentz added 12, while Reid tabulated 11 kills and six blocks.

MIneral Area struggled to generate much offense in the early stages, and surrendered eight consecutive points while falling behind 12-1, as the Vikings recorded an efficient total of 17 kills during game one.

MAC proved more resilient in game two despite trailing for the duration. Sophomore Haley Motley made two stuffs and Laitinen logged her fourth kill of the stanza at 19-17, but timely blocking from Reid pulled JeffCo through.

Monika Barros de Alcantara propelled the Lady Cards with a seven-point serving streak that handcuffed the Vikings at times, and Kleekamp slammed two kills into the Jefferson back row for a 10-3 start in game three.

Kleekamp and Laitinen paced Mineral Area with 13 kills each, and Meyer compiled 34 assists. Kosmopolis finished with six blocks and Motley added five, while libero Kelsey Davault brought up 17 digs.

The Lady Cardinals will play four matches while hosting the American Family Classic this weekend at the Bob Sechrest Fieldhouse.