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Hayden — Heading into the fifth and deciding game against Baggs, Wyo., Hayden sophomore Holli Salazar wanted the ball.

She knew the Tigers hadn't played their best, but she was determined to still pull out a win.

So when Jessica Martin set the ball from mid net, Salazar jumped up, swung hard and finished off the Rattlers from Wyoming.

"I knew it was the last point," Salazar said. "I really wanted to get it. I hit as hard as I could."

Salazar was one of the bright spots for a Hayden team that struggled for some of the night. Despite winning, 25-19, 16-25, 25-19, 19-25, 15-14, Hayden coach Stephanie Davis said her team needs to play better as the season progresses.

"I think we have to go back to what we do well," Davis said. "We've played lots of volleyball together, and we have to keep things simple."

In the first and third games, the Tigers outplayed Baggs. At one point in the first game, Hayden led by as many as eight points. After the Rattlers mounted a mini comeback, Hayden put Baggs away for good, 25-19. In the third game, Hayden never trailed.

But in the second and fourth games, it was like a different team was on the court. The Rattlers jumped out to early leads in both of the games and never looked back.

In the last game, the two teams battled, but Hayden pieced it together enough to pull out a win.

"We'll take an ugly win," Davis said. "We need to work on footwork and reading the ball. We just had a hard time playing the slower pace."

With a game against league opponent West Grand slated for Saturday, Davis said she hopes the team - not just one person - can put it all together.

"Each match, I see different people step up," she said. "I'm ready for them all to step up."