Messenger photo by Britt Kudla Kacee Gollob hits the ball over the net for Fort Dodge against Des Moines East on Thursday night. For more photos, please visit CU.messengernews.net

What looked like a quick night of work for the Fort Dodge volleyball squad turned into a fight down the stretch before the sweep was complete.

The Dodgers (3-15 overall) earned a 25-18 victory in Game 1, cruised 25-8 in Game 2, then closed out the match by rallying for a 32-30 win against Des Moines East here on Thursday.

“Hopefully we can use this victory in the final game and the entire match as a confidence booster,” said FDSH head coach Tonia Burrell. “We had a gameplan coming in where wanted to feed our big hitters.

“We did a great job of keeping the ball in play, and worked hard at playing hard.”

The Scarlets (0-8 overall) had the Dodgers on the rope in the final set with a 23-19 lead and at game point ahead 24-21, but FDSH went on a 4-0 run to reach their own game point at 25-24 behind the serving of Josie Shirbroun.

East was at game point four times, and the Dodgers had four opportunities as well before finally capping the triumph. FDSH trailed 30-29 before reeling off three straight points on Raeya Love and Ebonee Altman kills, and finally, a Beth Murman ace.

“I was disappointed that we were in that position, but I was pleased with the way we fought through it,” Burrell said. “I was proud with the way we came out on top. We made a lot of errors, but we overcame them.”

East kept the Dodgers flustered in the third game, but just couldn’t find a way to prevail. The Scarlets still haven’t won a single game this year.

“I thought our serving was outstanding,” Burrell said. “We served aggressive and we weren’t tentative and also moved the ball well on serve receive reception.

“Josie did a great job when she got the ball and we trailed 24-22. She helped get us the lead at 25-24. You want you senior in that position.”

Shirbroun finished the night 18-for-18 serving with three aces. She had 19 assists as well, while Kathryn Cochrane had nine.

Junior Kacee Gollob had a strong night offensively and defensively for the Dodgers, recording 16 kills and seven blocks. Altman and Murman had seven kills, and Brooke Erickson added four. Erickson also recorded three blocks.

Cochrane paced the Dodgers in digs with 12 and Kaden Pederson followed with 11. Murman and Shirbroun had eight digs each.

The Dodger junior varsity won 21-13, 21-19. The FDSH sophomores earned 21-19 and 21-9 victories.

The freshman A team rolled, 21-7 and 21-9, and the B squad won 13-21, 21-19, 15-9.

Fort Dodge is back in action on Saturday when they hit the road for the Cedar Falls Invitational. Action begins at 9 a.m.