A young Fortuna volleyball team posted its first Big 5 win on Thursday night, beating visiting McKinleyville in five sets.

The Fortuna girls won a back-and-forth match 17-25, 25-23, 17-25, 25-12, 15-10.

And they won with a strong team performance as the players continue to grow together on the court.

“The team secured its first league win through a collaborative effort, utilizing multiple hitters, proving great coverage and maintaining a positive mindset throughout the match,” head coach Rene Drakeford said. 

Setter Jayden Dalton had a good all-around night and finished with 14 digs, three kills and an ace while setting her teammates up for success with 30 assists.

Sophomore outside hitter Olivia Scilacci also had a big night and contributed 12 kills, eight digs, two aces, a block and an assist, while teammate Madilyn Roberts took on a new role and had an immediate impact.

After Evalynn Little suffered an injury in Tuesday night’s game at Eureka, Roberts took over at middle blocker and “had an amazing night,” according to Drakeford.

Roberts finished with nine kills, five aces, five digs and three blocks.

“The players exhibited resilience, hustle and composure, showcasing remarkable team chemistry and a deep commitment to the sport throughout the game,” the head coach added.

Defensive specialist AnnaKate Pedrotti also impacted the game with six digs and five aces, while sophomore libero Addie Collenburg finished the night with 21 digs and an ace.

Middle blocker Taylor Heussler added four kills, four digs, two blocks and two assists.

The Panthers, meanwhile, came close to posting their first conference win before falling just short.

“It was a good match,” McKinleyville head coach Ashley Washburn said. “Fortuna made less mistakes than we did.”

Washburn and assistant coach Shaneesa Applegate believe their team is well capable of getting that elusive conference win and the Panthers have been competitive in many of their matches.

“I just want the girls to believe they can win as much as coach Shaneesa and I do,” Washburn added. “They are capable of so much more than they are showing.”

With the win, the Huskies close out the first half of conference action with a record of 1-3, while the Panthers dropped to 0-4.