T-R FILE PHOTO - Marshalltown senior outside hitter Kinsley Bowie (11) goes up for the attack in a volleyball match against Des Moines Hoover on Sept 2 inside the Roundhouse. Bowie had a team-leading 16 kills in the Bobcats’ 3-1 win over Mason City on Tuesday night.

It took them a little convincing, but the Marshalltown volleyball squad eventually persuaded Mason City to take the “L.”

After a pair of grueling sets to start the night, the Bobcats put away the visiting Riverhawks (2-12, 1-2) to claim a 3-1 win in Iowa Alliance Conference action inside the Roundhouse.

Marshalltown (6-9, 3-1) outdueled Mason City in the first set 30-28 before getting edged out, 25-23, in the second set. The Bobcats closed with back-to-back wins, 25-17, 25-15, to improve to 3-1 in conference play.

Outside hitters Kinsley Bowie and Bella Avise led the Bobcat attack with 16 and 10 kills, respectively. MHS got balanced contributions from there, with Harper Wilson and setter Lauren O’Neal adding six kills apiece, and middle hitters Brooklyn Smith and Kendall Brummel adding five each.

O’Neal totaled 39 assists in the win.

Defensively, Smith scored a team-leading three blocks at the net, while Bowie and Wilson added one each. Senior libero Gianna Baune made 16 digs, Avise had eight and Bowie six.

From the service line, Marshalltown was just 78.7 percent, going 74-for-94, but made up for it with 10 aces. O’Neal and Bowie had four aces apiece while Avise was the top server percentage-wise, going 18-for-18 with one ace. Baune was 14-for-17 with one ace as well.

The Bobcats are back in action this weekend with the Tiger Volleyball Tournament hosted Saturday by Cedar Falls High School.