Concordia, KS- The Cloud County Thunderbird Volleyball team got back on track Wednesday night with a four set victory over the Hesston Larks. Cloud took the match with set victories of 25-16, 26-24, 20-25, 25-18. 

After a quick start for Cloud in the opening set, Hesston gained traction and took their first lead at 8-7. The T-Birds and Larks battled late into the first set before Cloud rallied and pulled away to win the first set 25-16.

Kylie McKinney and Katelyn Ruth fueled the T-Birds early in second set helping Cloud jump out to an early lead. Hesston stormed back and took their first lead of the second set at 18-17 and eventually pushed the lead to 20-17. Cloud clawed back into and tied the set at 23 with a block from Elizabeth Nobert. After a Hesston point, Nobert recorded a kill to tie it at 24. Sophomore Cara Flach then delivered back to back service aces to to take the second set in dramatic fashion 26-24.

Hesston refused to go away and jumped out to a 12-4 lead in the third set. Cloud slowly chipped away at the Hesston lead and got within two at 17-19 but Hesston pulled away late and won the third set 25-20. 

Ruth started the fourth set with a service ace and Cloud jumped out to a commanding 12-3 lead and never looked back. The T-Birds took the fourth and deciding set 25-18. 

Irem Bat led the Thunderbirds with 16 kills. Nobert added 12. Flach had 46 assists.

Cloud returns to action this weekend as they head to the Iowa Western Invitational in Council Bluffs, IA on Friday, September 16.