CENTER – Going into Tuesday’s match, the Center High School volleyball team was on the outside looking in when it concerned a postseason appearance.

The Vikings kept their hopes alive with a win over Olathe at the Center gym.

The Pirates won the first set 25-22, but the Vikings came back to win the next three by scores of 25-19, 26-24 and 26-24.

“We gutted it out,” said Center coach Misty Lambert. “We’ve been working on trying to finish games, so it was good for my girls to pull that out. We’re in a position where we’re at 38^th right now, and the Top 36 make regionals. They haven’t been to regionals since I’ve been here, and this is my seventh year here. So we’re really pushing to make that our goal. They really tried to drive that home tonight.”

Center took off to a 6-1 lead to open the first set, but Olathe narrowed the lead to 6-4. The Vikings responded to increasing the lead to 16-8.

The Pirates had a strong answer as they scored seven straight points to close within 16-15. After the teams exchanged the next four side outs, Olathe went on 4-1 run to take the lead at 20-19.

The Vikings tied the score at 20-20, but the Pirates scored four in a row for a 24-20 lead. Center reduced the deficit to 24-22, but a service error gave the first set to Olathe, 25-22.

The Pirates had a strong start to the second set by scoring the first five points. The Vikings closed to within 6-3, but Olathe scored two straight points for an 8-3 advantage.

Center then went on a 10-5 run to tie the score at 13-13. Olathe regained the lead, but the Vikings scored six unanswered points to take a 19-14 lead.

The Pirates had a 4-1 run to narrow the margin to 20-18, but the Vikings scored five of the final six points for a 25-19 win and to tie the match at a set apiece.

Olathe took a 6-2 lead to start the third set, but Center had a 4-2 run to reduce the deficit to 8-7. The Pirates pushed the lead to 14-11, but the Vikings had a 5-1 rally to take a 17-15 lead.

Olathe took advantage of Center mistakes to regain the lead at 19-17. The teams then traded the next five side outs before the Vikings tied the score sat 21-21.

Olathe regained the lead at 23-21, but Center scored five of the final six points for a 26-24 win.

The Vikings scored the first two points of the fourth set, but the Pirates answered with a 5-0 run. Center rallied to tie the score at 7-7, and after a brief Olathe side out, Center had a 3-1 rally to take a 10-9 lead.

The Pirates regained the lead at 11-10, but the Vikings scored two in a row. Olathe did the same for a 13-12 edge, but Center scored five in a row for a 17-13 lead.

Olathe went on an 8-3 run to take a 20-19 lead. Center took the lead back at 23-22, but the Pirates scored two straight points for a 24-23 edge.

Center scored the final three points for a 26-24 win.

Maya Swanson led the Vikings offense with 23 assists. Dulce Palma was the hitting leader with 12 kills, followed by Emiliana Valdez with nine, Boston Bogner with seven, Swanson with five, and Becklyn Bogner with five.

The Vikings had nine service aces and were led by Boston Bogner with four. Karyme Chavez had three, and Alyciana Lujan and Becklyn Bogner both had one.

Center (11-10, 2-4) will conclude the regular season on Thursday as it will travel to Creede.

“We haven’t seen Creede, but they have a pretty good record,” Lambert said. “So we’re hoping that helps our RPI a little bit to put us up in the Top 36.”

Match time is at 4:30 p.m.