—Photo by Patrick Coons

Sierra Rattenborg missed half of Webster City’s volleyball season with a knee injury.

In Tuesday’s regional Class 4A quarterfinal against Fort Dodge, she tweaked her knee and was hobbling on the court.

When the coaches and training staff asked her if she needed to come out, the Lynx senior was defiant and went right back on to the court.

After having successful knee surgery, there was no way Rattenborg was going to miss what could have been her final high school match.

The Lynx (21-15 overall) dropped the first set to the Dodgers, 25-23, but fought back with a 25-21 and 25-18 victory. They were tripped up in set four, but prevailed 15-11 in a winner-take-all finale to advance into the regional semifinals.

“After having knee surgery, I worked as hard as possible to not miss my senior year. So when I tweaked my knee (Tuesday), it was mind over matter,” Rattenborg said. “As a team, we have worked so hard to get where we are now, and missing half of the season to an injury I couldn’t control, that wasn’t going to stop me from doing what I could.”

Rattenborg fought through the pain and helped lead the Lynx to a thrilling victory over FDSH (9-24).

“We kept our composure and did what we do well,” said WCHS head coach Jess Howard. “We talk about playing points and sets as they come. We got off to a slow start, but we always talk about the mental part and finding consistency.

“We make mistakes, but it’s how we deal with them and learn from them to come back and stay in games.”

The Lynx will now face Western Dubuque (22-10) on Thursday in Epworth. First serve is set for 7 p.m.

In the do-or-die set against the Dodgers, the Lynx found themselves in a 9-6 hole before tying the match at 10-10. That’s when Rattenborg stepped to the service line.

The senior scattered four serves across Fort Dodge’s defense, pushing the Lynx to match point before the team closed out the victory.

“I was in the moment, thinking this could be the last time I’d be playing with this amazing group of girls,” Rattenborg said. “I was thinking, don’t serve to the libero (Fort Dodge’s Macy Brown), but make it over the net.”

Rattenborg finished with nine kills. Classmate Reese Casey led the way with 15 kills, with fellow senior Livia Kasch also adding nine.

Alley Odland was the dig leader with 28. Joslin Gourley (17), Cloe Saviski (11) and Adeline Tesdahl (9) were next in line.

“We focus on what our strengths are on the court and control what we can control,” Howard said. “Our seniors fought hard and did what it took to come out on top.”

Fort Dodge jumped out of the gate with a 10-6 advantage in the second game before the Lynx built a 20-17 edge. The Dodgers trimmed the gap to 22-21, but Webster City closed it out.

It was all Webster City in the third set, as the Lynx built a 20-14 advantage they would never relinquish.

Gourley recorded 25 assists and Fallon Casey had 15 for the Lynx. Gourley was 18-for-19 serving with two aces.

Delainey Bargfrede was 17-for-17 with an ace, and Odland was 18-for-21 with two aces.