By Gerry Steele

gsteele@bakercityherald.com

Baker and Pendleton couldn’t have played any harder, or any longer, in their nonleague volleyball match Tuesday at Baker High School.

The match went the distance before Baker (4-1) defeated the Class 5A Lady Bucks 25-21, 24-26, 25-23, 24-26, 15-13.

With Baker leading 14-13 in Game 5, Kourtney Lehman scored the game-winning point with a hit off a Pendleton blocker that fell to the floor in the middle of the Bucks’ defense.

All five games were close from start to finish.

In the first game, Baker trailed by as many as three points four times, and by four points twice before rallying to take the lead.

Behind the serving of Jayme Ramos, and the net play of Kaylee Burk, the Bulldogs forged an 18-14 edge.

Baker managed to maintain its lead until Pendleton cut the deficit to 24-21. Kaeli Flanagan’s kill won the game.

Ramos served Baker to a 7-1 lead to start the second game.

Desi Davis later served Baker up 14-3, using strong hits at the net by Flanagan and Jordan Rudolph.

Then Pendleton rallied to take a 23-19 advantage.

Baker managed to tie the game at 23 and 24 before the Bucks evened the match when Baker was in the net on game point.

Baker trailed in Game 3 until Christina Maldonado came off the bench to serve the Bulldogs to a 23-20 lead. Key hits by Flanagan and an ace by Maldonado helped the effort.

Baker built its lead to 24-21 before Pendleton bounced back to cut the deficit to 24-23. Baker then scored the winning point when Pendleton’s serve sailed long.

In Game 4, Baker trailed by as many as eight points before battling back to tie the game at 24. Then, with Pendleton leading 25-24, a Baker block attempt went out of bounds to force a fifth game.

The final game went back and forth until Ramos served Baker into a 14-9 advantage.

Again Pendleton fought back, getting within 14-13 before Lehman’s winning hit.

Baker completed the sweep, winning the JV2 match 25-14, 25-14, and the junior varsity match 25-22, 25-19.

Baker hosts Homedale, Idaho, on Thursday.