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URBANDALE -- The window was open, but Urbandale slammed it shut before the Bobcats could wiggle through.
The Marshalltown volleyball team fought to the bitter end of Tuesday's Class 5A Region 1 match at Urbandale, but the host J-Hawks had just enough to hold off a Bobcat comeback in a 25-19, 25-21, 27-25 triumph.
The J-Hawks (7-27) advance to face top-ranked Waukee Northwest (27-2) on Thursday night in Waukee, while Marshalltown (10-20) was left to wonder what if.
The Bobcats came back to take a 24-19 lead in the third set but couldn't close it out. Urbandale scored six-straight points to go on top 25-24, but a J-Hawk error tied the score again.
Marshalltown couldn't put the ball down and Urbandale eventually did, closing out the contest.
Maci Moore led the J-Hawks with 13 kills and Payton Traynor added six more. Urbandale came away with seven total blocks and 10 service aces.
Brooklyn Smith put down 10 kills to lead Marshalltown in defeat, while Bella Avise and Avery Polley both finished with five kills. Kendall Brummel and setter Lauren O'Neal had three kills apiece, and O'Neal totaled 20 assists.
Collins Grant led the MHS defense with 10 digs, O'Neal had nine, Smith had seven, and both Polley and Anela Holloway had six apiece. The Bobcats totaled just two blocks -- Lorelai Holloway had one solo and one assisted block -- but Marshalltown marked down just two service aces against 10 errors.