BUCYRUS (Crawford County Now) — The determination was visible on the face of Bucyrus junior Peyton Fackler.

After falling behind 2 sets to none to Wynford, the Lady Red rallied for a 5-set win over its rival in Northern 10 Athletic Conference play Thursday night on Phil A. Joseph Court in Alex Kish Memorial Gymnasium.

“It was a great team effort. In the beginning we were still a little bit off from our loss at (Colonel) Crawford. We came together and used our momentum to keep pushing,” Fackler said.

“I think we really wanted it more. It felt amazing. We’ve not beaten them since coach has been here. It feels really good and hopefully it keeps our momentum going for the rest of the season.”

This marks Bucyrus’ best record since joining the N10, going 11-13 in 2017.

Fackler’s kill won set 4, 25-21, to force the deciding 5th game, which Bucyrus won 15-8. Wynford won 25-19, 25-20, before Bucyrus claimed a 25-22 victory in the third set.

Sydney Holbrook’s pair of kills got the Lady Royals the first set. Fackler and freshmen Taylor Saull and Brooklyn Kuhn had key points for Bucyrus, but Wynford prevailed.

“We’ve been working on finishing and sets 3 and 4 we were losing by 2 or 3 points. We just have to finish,” Wynford head coach Donielle Crall said.

The Lady Royals slip to 2-6 in the league and 6-7 overall, while The Lady Red are 6-3, 9-6.

“Excellent comeback. We played slow ball and couldn’t get anything going. We had a sub-par practice last night after that loss,” Bucyrus head coach Amber Christy said.

“We couldn’t get a block. Our back row was picking and swinging at the ball. My hitters settled in and we played better. This group of girls has been with me since junior high. They know I run a tight ship, and they have to work hard every single day.”

The teams battled to a 7-7 tie in the third set before a Tori Stang block ignited a run. Fackler traded points with Sydney Holbrook and Paige Sheldon before Stang added a pair of kills to open a 19-11 lead.

Wynford fought back courtesy of Brooke Frombaugh and Madisyn Watkins, but Fackler (kill) and Bailey Doles’ ace put the game away.

“I never bench anyone. They all have to perform, and we just got into a rotation, and it was working and I wasn’t going to make a change,” Christy said.

It worked in set 4, featuring 6 ties. But Aubrie Kimmel, Kuhn and Fackler went to work. Reese Garvin had several digs.

“Lillyan (Butchko) had a great night. I pulled my little freshman Brooklyn Kuhn up and she ran my 6 rotation as a setter. This was her first time, and she did a heck of a job. She’s my player of the game. She served well and made some really good decisions.”

Bucyrus wasn’t going to be denied, racing out to a 9-1 lead behind the play of Stang, Kimmel and Brooklyn Ryland. Kuhn put it away for a win on Volley For The Cure night.

“I was proud of them and how they acted. We try to keep them level-headed. Wynford picked up some phenomenal balls. We had some great volleys and Frombaugh is good all the way around. Their libero played great and so did the Sheldon girl,” Christy said.

Stang had 16 kills, Fackler added 10 and Kimmel 9.

Garvin and Kimmel each had 18 digs, unofficially. Kuhn had 24 assists.

“It was more than volleyball tonight. You saw (cancer) survivors out there from both schools,” Crall said.

“We came out to play and just let off the gas a little bit. We’ve got to learn to get over that hump. Everyone is healthy now and we need to just run with what we’re working with. I think we’re taking a step in the right direction.”

Bucyrus visits Sandusky St. Mary Saturday morning and Wynford goes to New Riegel on Tuesday.

Wynford junior varsity won, 13-25, 25-13, 25-13.