CROSS-COURT CRUSH ­— Martin County West’s Emily Anderson (9) hammers a spike over Gibbon-Fairfax-Winthrop blockers Trinity Stearns (12) and Natalie Ahlbrecht (14) during non-league volleyball action Monday night in Trimont. The Mavericks’ Meia Schuett (far left) and Liv Borchardt (on bench) watch the action. (Photo by Greg Abel)

TRIMONT — The Gibbon-Fairfax-Winthrop Thunderbirds volleyball team rallied from a two-game deficit to beat the Martin County West Mavericks, 20-25, 10-25, 25-23, 25-21, 15-13, on Monday in Trimont.

“This is the first time this season we came from behind to win,” GFW head coach Imia Mages said. “We got to every loose ball in the final three games and had the confidence we could win.”

“We have to keep playing hard, no matter what the score is,” MCW head coach Kayla Zehms said. “We missed a lot of serves tonight, which is uncommon for us. We didn’t keep digging tonight.”

The Mavericks took advantage of the Thunderbirds’ bad passing in Game 1 and a Maddie Carlson spike put the Mavericks ahead 23-18.

GFW ended the game with a bad pass, allowing MCW to win Game 1.

The Mavericks dominated Game 2, jumping out to a 14-4 lead. The Thunderbirds were never in the game and it was over quickly.

MCW’s Emily Anderson had six kills, complements of Addy Wohlhuter’s set assists.

MCW was one game away from sweeping the match, but the Thunderbirds kept Game 3 close the entire way. Game 3 was tied at 8-and 12-all before GFW surged ahead.

An Emily Anderson kill, plus back-to-back Camryn Clow service points, brought MCW to within a point at 24-23, but GFW was able to secure the win on an MCW serve that was long.

GFW held the edge in Game 4, thanks to Taylor Schafer’s kills and Katelyn Beranek’s set assists.

The Mavericks trailed Game 4 23-18 before the Thunderbirds were able to win the two of the final five points to win and force a deciding Game 5.

Schafer and Natalie Ahlbrecht put GFW on their backs in Game 5 and the entire team kept every ball alive and made a couple of more kills than MCW, which proved the difference.

MCW had a 4-2 lead in Game 5 before falling behind 14-11. GFW gained the momentum and earned 12 of the next 19 points to grab the three-point lead.

Schafer had two kills down the stretch and Ahlbrecht had a block at the net that earned a point as the Thunderbirds won Game 5.

For GFW, Schafer finished with 15 kills and Beranek had 12 set assists.

For MCW, Emily Anderson had 21 kills, while Wohlhuter had 25 set assists.

Ahlbrecht was a team-best 17-of-21 serving with three aces for GFW.

For MCW, Emily Anderson was a perfect 17-of-17 serving, while Maddie Carlson was 26-of-27 serving with two aces and Clow was 25-of-27 serving with two aces.

The Mavericks (4-6) travel to Alden to face the Alden-Conger Knights tonight at 7 p.m, while the Thunderbirds (2-2) host Minnesota Valley Lutheran at 7:15 p.m. tonight.

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Martin County West compiled a 2-3 record during the Maple River Invitational on Saturday in Mapleton.

Redwood Valley posted an opening 25-10, 25-14 win over the Mavericks before MCW rallied for a 25-19, 23-25, 15-6 second-round decision over St. Charles.

Austin bested MCW in third-round play, 25-18, 25-12, before the Mavericks rallied again for a 25-27, 25-21, 18-16 hard-fought triumph over Sibley East.

Host Maple River outlasted MCW in the final match, 25-17, 23-25, 15-6.

Courtney Anderson made 61 digs to complement three aces on 29-for-33 serving for the Mavericks, while Addy Wohlhuter distributed 44 set assists, collected 15 digs and made good on 18 of 23 serves.

Emily Anderson topped the Mavericks by pounding 39 kills to go with 45-for-47 serving with two aces. Anderson also scooped up 40 opposing spikes and chalked up five blocks.

Cami Clow went 26 of 30 serving with three aces and notched six kills for MCW, Liv Borchardt chipped in 14 kills and five blocks, while Avery Sanders added 14 digs.

Maddie Carlson rounded out the Mavericks’ performance by recording 35 digs and 20 kills to complement a 40 of 41 serving effort that notched four aces.