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Riverton • If this is how things are going to go for the 2015 high school volleyball season, get ready for racing hearts aplenty.

A best-of-five match between Riverton and Clearfield went the distance on Tuesday night, with the host Silverwolves finally prevailing 24-26, 25-22, 25-16, 19-25, 15-9.

"It would've been nice if we had been a little bit more consistent; I think we had a little bit of the first-game jitters," said Riverton first-year coach Diane Struck. "At the end, our real team came out and it was a great way to finish — a great way to start the season."

Senior Alexis Averett scored 10 kills, two blocks and six serving aces in the victory. Averett, splitting time with junior Maryn Davis at setter, was effective from all spots on the floor.

"She's a great hitter for us, as well as a setter, and she's a great leader for the team," Struck said. "We look for a lot of points from her each game."

The middle hitters for Riverton (1-0), senior Shaylee Kartchner and junior Arianna Tuaitanu, gave the Silverwolves a critical advantage over Clearfield (0-1) at the net.

The Falcons were without senior middle hitters Lucy Evans and Kiersten Banks — both out with injuries.

Kartchner finished with six kills and three blocks, while Tuaitanu came on strong at the end of the match and also tallied six kills and three stuffs at the net.

Riverton, after claiming the third game, looked in control with a 16-11 lead in the fourth. But Clearfield got itself back in the match with a 9-1 run and then another 5-1 streak to force the fifth and deciding game.

Right-side hitter Madeline Lance registered eight kills and six blocks for the Falcons, while outside Catey Patrolia contributed seven put-aways. Lance, in the fifth game, spiked a winner to tie the score at 6-6.

That turned out to be Clearfield's last hurrah, however. Behind the serve of Davis, Riverton ripped off five straight points and was never challenged again.

"We're happy to go five games with a team this good. Riverton's a great team and to play five games with them, I'm very pleased," Falcons coach George Miles said.

To an extent, the first match of the year was kind of an extension of the last session of preseason practice — especially for a new coach like Struck, who was still evaluating her players talents to the end.

Tuaitanu's performance may have made the decision-making process a little bit easier.

"We've really been battling for who's going to play what position over the last few days of practice," Struck said. "She's come off as a strong blocker, she's really great reading the block too and made a lot of great shots for us." —

Riverton 3, Clearfield 2

• Riverton gets a match-high 10 kills from senior Alexis Averett in the victory. Averett adds a pair of blocks and six serving aces to lead the Silverwolves.

• Shaylee Kartchner and Arianna Tuaitanu combine for a dozen kills from the middle blocking position for Riverton.