Seventeen matches into the season, the Fort Dodge volleyball team will be home for only the second time on Saturday as they host the Jackie Wilde Invitational in the Dodger gym.

Action will begin at 9 a.m. in the Fort Dodge Senior High School gym.

“It’s nice to be at home for an invitational, because you don’t have to get up at 6 a.m. and travel,” said Fort Dodge head coach Toni Cochrane. “We’ve only been home once, so it’s nice to be here and you always play better in front of your crowd.”

Joining the Dodgers will be Lewis Central, Ridge View and Sioux City West.

The Dodgers have 16 losses on the season, but 10 have been to ranked opponents, seven in Class 5A.

Fort Dodge’s has competed against six straight top-six Class 5A teams.

“We have continued to improve every match,” Cochrane said. “It’s hard to tell by the schedule we play against these powerhouse schools, but we’ve been concentrating on our strengths and adding ways that will score us points.”

Leading the Dodgers in kills is junior Kiana Touney.

Sophomore Tory Bennett is serving at a 94 percent clip with five aces and senior Kathryn Cochrane is serving at 93 percent and with eight aces.

Cochrane is the team assist leader with 118 and Bennett leads the Dodgers with 95 digs. Senior Ciarra Love has 66 and classmate Emma Bloom has 50.

Senior Nicole Guerin has a team high 27 blocks. Junior Tjaden Pettit-Johnston has 16, followed by Touney (15) and senior Raelle Wilder (12).