The Mariner Tritons tried to give away their volleyball match Tuesday night with Estero. On their home floor, no less.

A series of misplayed volleys and mental errors left the Tritons scrambling and stumbling into a decisive fifth game.

“We should have been out of there in three games,” said Tritons coach Briska Wolfe. “It wasn’t a match with a lot of kills. There was a lot of hitting the ball in the net.”

The Tritons managed to pull themselves together in time to win the fifth game easily to seal the 29-27, 25-12, 24-26, 11-25, 15-6 victory.

“They were too stressed after that fourth game,” Wolfe said with a sigh of relief. “I just told them not to worry about things and just go out and have fun.”

The Tritons were in control in winning the first two games in the best-of-five match, but let the third game slip away at the end. Then, the fourth game became an absolute disaster.

Nothing went right for the Tritons after they led 9-6. A kill and two service aces by Estero tied the game at 9-9. The Wildcats volleyed into the net to put the Tritons up 10-9. That proved to be their last lead in the match.

Leading 12-11, Estero’s Stacey Mielke served 12 consecutive times to finish off the Tritons 25-11 and force a decisive fifth game.

“We did not play well at all,” said Wolfe. “We need more team unity. We’re young with a lot of sophomores and only four seniors. They just need more play together.”

Just as they had done several times throughout the match, the Wildcats became their own worst enemy in game five. The Tritons benefited from several mishit balls by the Wildcats to open a five-point lead and never looked back to seal the win 15-6.

The Tritons also took advantage of a string of unforced errors by Estero to rally from a 16-12 deficit in the opening game to take a 20-18 lead. After several one-point side outs, Abby Willis killed a ball to make it 28-27. When Estero volleyed into the net, the Tritons claimed the first game.

The Tritons led 8-5 in the second game when senior Yamily Fernandez stepped to the service line for seven straight points and a 15-6 lead. The Wildcats runed the ball back to the Tritons with Willis serving five straight points, all on Estero unforced errors, to open a 21-6 lead. After a couple more one-point exchanges, the Tritons closed it out 25-12.

Mariner jumped ahead early in the third game, but the Wildcats began a run to take a 13-12 lead. More unforced errors by the Wildcats put the Tritons up 17-15 when the wheels came off.

A pair of Estero dinks and two Mariner blasts beyond the back line turned it into a nailbiter at 23-23. Estero went on to take the game 26-24 and avoid a straight-set sweep.

Cody Sawyer, Willis and Tristan Miller led the Tritons by combining for 17 service aces.

The Tritons (3-1) play at Cape Coral Monday.

Lemon Bay 3, Cape Coral 0: An outbreak of the flu softened Cape Coral as the Seahawks dropped their fourth straight road match to start the season 25-8, 25-15, 25-7 at Lemon Bay Tuesday.

Jennifer Le led the Seahawks with four kills while Alysia Figueroa contributed two blocks and two service aces. The Seahawks (0-4) host Mariner Monday in their first home match of the season.

Ida Baker 3, South Fort Myers 1: Sierra Myers and Payton Van Horn delivered 11 kills apiece while Brenna Hambsch added six kills and five service aces to lead Baker to a 25-19, 23-25, 25-21, 25-21 win Tuesday over South Fort Myers.

“It was nice to have my full squad back,” said Bulldogs coach Renee Van Horn. “It was a total team effort with everyone on the floor contributing.”

Setters Kali Nordquist handed out 21 assists and Madison Kobs had 20 assists. Lexi Goldberg contributed 16 digs.

The Bulldogs (2-1) play at Dunbar Monday.

Fort Myers 3, North Fort Myers 0: Fort Myers manhandled North in a straight set sweep 25-12, 25-18, 25-17 Tuesday.

The Red Knights (1-2) host Riverdale on Tuesday.

Boys Golf

At Royal Tee: Rain cut short a tri-match to five holes for the Cape High Seahawks Wednesday.

South Fort Myers, led by David Triana and Joey Jaminson with four-hole 18s, outscored the Seahawks 81-113. East Lee County, with just two players, did not earn a team score.

Anthony Lawrence led the Seahawks with a 26 while Blair Langford carded a 27 for four holes.

The Seahawks (1-2) and Island Coast play Mariner at Coral Oaks on Tuesday.

Cape Coral 113 (4/5 holes)- Anthony Lawrence 26, Blair Langford 27, Mitch Marinack 30, Neal Nowall 29.

South Ft. Myers 81 – David Triana 18, Joey Jaminson 18, Alex Carlisle 24, Austin Schultz 21.

East Lee Co. – Brandon Monville 33, Joe Melendez 25.

Girls Golf

At Royal Tee: Rain cut short Wednesday’s match for Cape Coral and South Fort Myers to five holes.

The Seahawks were led by Regina Sin with 20. South Fort Myers had one player and did not earn a team score.

The Seahawks (2-0) host Mariner and Island Coast at Royal Tee on Tuesday.

Cape Coral 148 (5 holes) – Regina Sin 20, Carrie McDonald 40, Wendelyn Sanabria 43, Shivani Desai 45.

South Fort Myers – Rachel Adams 35.

6-Man Football

Dohahue 27, Oasis 13: Quarterback Josh Ertter completed 20 of 26 passes for 265 yards and two touchdowns to lead Oasis, which came up short against Donahue Saturday.

Austin Beach led the Sharks (1-1) in rushing with 62 yards on 12 carries. John Callahan had one interception while Mike Mielnicki and Ben Alongi combined for two sacks.

Oasis plays Thursday night against Island Christian at the Pop Warner field at Caloosa Park.

Cape Coral Christian 41, Island Christian 14: Jamal Ward led Cape Coral Christian to victory Saturday with three touchdowns and 176 yards rushing to go with one interception and six tackles.

Moe Franklin scored twice, rushed for 65 yards and added 75 yards receiving while making 13 tackles, four sacks, recovered two fumbles and threw in an interception. Miguel Morales tacked on one touchdown to go with eight tackles. Christian Beckett made five tackles and three sacks while rushing for 80 yards and one TD.

Cape Christian (2-0) plays at Donahue Academy in Immokalee Saturday night.