GLADSTONE — GLADSTONE — Iron Mountain and Gladstone battled back and forth, but the Mountaineers pulled off a 3-2 win (20-25, 25-19, 25-20, 21-25, 15-12) on Thursday.

“They’re a good solid team and as you can see I substituted a lot tonight,” said Iron Mountain coach Jeanne Newberry. “I was trying to find the right combination against the right team. Both teams played extremely strong and there was strong defensive play throughout the five games.”

Both teams came to play in the first set as Gladstone took a slim 13-12 lead before scoring nine of the next 11 points to grab a 22-14 advantage. The Mountaineers weren’t out of it yet as they scored six of the next seven points to pull within four before the Braves finished off the set 25-20.

“The first game was pure momentum for us,” said Gladstone coach Mariah Yonker. “I think I had three girls that played the whole game and didn’t come out. By the time the second and third game came around they were winded.”

Iron Mountain came out strong and took the second set as it started with a 10-5 lead. Later in the set the Mountaineers scored five unanswered points to take a 16-8 lead. Iron Mountain cruised from there to take the second set 25-19.

The third set started close with both teams trading points on their way to a 15-15 tie. Iron Mountain finished strong putting a few runs together to grab a 25-20 third-set victory.

The Mountaineers came out strong in the fourth set looking to close out the match as they took a 16-8 lead. The Braves then rallied to score 13 of the next 15 points to take a three- point lead and eventually take the fourth set 25-21.

“I saw them just pull themselves together,” said Yonker on her team’s rally. “It got to one point where they looked down and already knew they lost. I had to remind them that they are a good team. I think what happened that fourth game was they were able to shake it off and start fresh.”

The final set was close as both teams really battled. Iron Mountain took an early 6-5 lead before Gladstone scored six of the next seven points to take a four-point lead. The Mountaineers then dug deep and scored eight of the final nine points to pull out the 15-12 fifth-set victory.

“It’s the girls determination to finish strong and their desire to win,” said Newberry. “Towards the end it was strong hitting and they didn’t get into a tip-mode. Tonight they finished strong and finished on hard hitting.”

Taylor Talerico filled up the stat sheet for Iron Mountain recording 22 digs, nine kills and an ace, while Emma Thomann had 11 kills, five digs, three blocks and two aces.

Maddie Lakosky had seven kills, five digs, five aces and a block for the Braves.

Gladstone will head to Escanaba Saturday for the Elks Invitational.

Iron Mountain performance summary:

Jenna Santini — 1 dig

Taylor Talerico — 22 digs, 9 kills, 1 ace

Jordan Weslin — 9 digs, 5 kills, 1 ace

Mya Khor — 1 dig

Lauren Lesky — 2 digs

Olyvea Galeazzi — 1 block

Makenna Dabb — 1 dig, 1 kill

Hanna Ellis — 10 digs, 4 kills, 4 aces, 2 blocks

Mackenzie Swanson — 6 kills, 1 ace, 1 block

Marissa Schilling — 6 digs

Claire Czernek — 5 kills, 1 block

Riley Poupore — 14 digs, 8 kills, 1 ace

Ella Fortner — 4 digs

Emma Thomann — 11 kills, 5 digs, 3 blocks, 2 aces

Jacqui Rollins — 16 digs, 2 blocks, 1 ace