Messenger photo by Britt Kudla

Fort Dodge’s Cheyenne Miller-Hameed hits the ball over the net against Ames on Tuesday. For more photos, visit CU.messengernews.net

In a pivotal spot against Ames on Tuesday night, senior Cheyenne Miller-Hameed came off the bench and quickly made her presence felt.

Miller-Hameed helped the Dodgers (3-14 overall) set the tone as they picked up a three-set victory over the Little Cyclones (4-10).

“Cheyenne did a great job and came in under control,” said FDSH head coach Martha Mericle. “She did her job as a senior. She was able to mix it up in her role as a setter, and helped to mix in sets for our attacking.”

The Dodgers won the opener, 25-22, then followed with 25-20 and 25-16 wins to end a four-match losing streak.

“Our efficiency was much better,” Mericle said. “We didn’t let up. We eliminated big runs from Ames.

“It’s nice to get a win over a CIML team and it’s a great confidence boost for us down the stretch.”

Miller-Hameed came in with the Dodgers trailing 21-19. She quickly recorded a kill and then took over at the service line.

The Dodgers took a 22-21 lead on ace from the senior. Ames then tied the contest at 22, but the Dodgers scored the final three points, highlighted by a Miller-Hameed backset which led to a clinching kill.

“It meant a lot to come in when we were close, and even better closing it out with a win,” Miller-Hameed said. “I feel like we all did really well playing as a whole.

“When we lost a couple of points, we didn’t put our heads down…we kept our chin up and fought for that point back. This was a really good win. It gave me relief because I knew I could do my thing as a setter.”

Fort Dodge rode the momentum in the second set, quickly scoring the first six points on serves from Alexis Hiracheta. The Dodgers built a 13-4 advantage and held off an Ames rally late.

“Being able to get a lead is huge for us,” Mericle said. “We were able to relax and pick our spots. When we serve, I call our spots after looking at different things and where the setter is. We spend a lot of time in practice working on serving.

“Getting leads allows us to be aggressive and try to put the ball where we feel is our best chance to score.”

It was a late rally in the third and final set that pushed the Dodgers to victory. Fort Dodge never traile, but was in a tight contest at 16-12 before the home team went on an 8-0 run to all but seal the deal.

Senior Kiana Touney had a big night for the Dodgers, recording 12 kills and coming up with big point-ending plays. Senior Tjaden Pettit-Johnston added seven kills, while sophomore Victoria Touney contributed five.

Senior Brooke Hansen and sophomore Lainey Maehl tallied four kills each.

“It felt amazing and just awesome (to get the win at home),” Kiana Touney said. “We aren’t a team that wins a lot, so to be able to ‘pop off’ and win at home for the first time in a while felt just awesome.

“I definitely wouldn’t have had these kills if the sets weren’t there. I’m very blessed to have amazing setters. It took the whole team to get kills and wins.”

Pettit-Johnston and Maehl had two solo blocks, while Pettit-Johnston and Kiana Touney had two assist blocks.

Junior Tory Bennett led the Dodgers in digs with 24, while sophomore Maggie Elsbecker recorded 12. Elsbecker was 13-for-15 serving with three aces.

Kiana Touney was 6 of 7 with three aces and seven digs. Hiracheta was 10-for-11 serving with an ace and seven digs. Miller-Hameed contributed 22 assists for the Dodgers.

Ames (4-8) returned to action on Sept. 24 after a self-imposed quarantine in the district.

Fort Dodge is back in action on Tuesday at Mason City. Action is set for 7:30 p.m.