North Fort Myers started strong, stayed strong and volleyed to a 25-15, 25-7, 25-19 victory Thursday night over District 4A-11 rival Ida Baker.

The Red Knights served up a total of 15 aces and rode the 17 kills of 6-foot-2 middle hitter Jessica Wagner to an unexpected easy win.

“I thought we played very well,” said Red Knights coach Jeremy Ridgeo. “We battled colds and sickness all week, but I think the girls wanted to come out and show how much they wanted this game to demonstrate the level of work they have put into it.”

Wagner delivered five kills in the first game as the Red Knights opened a 10-3 advantage. The Bulldogs tried to get back in it with a little help from the Red Knights.

After a series of four volleys that landed beyond the service line, the Bulldogs found themselves trailing 17-12. Wagner served up three aces and added a kill with another by Ashby Miranda to close out the first game.

The Red Knights again opened a cushy 8-2 lead in the second game with Wagner and Miranda accounting for four kills. The Bulldogs never threatened after that. Miranda served up six consecutive points to open the lead to 20-5 and Alex Smith served out the final four points.

The Bulldogs tightened their defense in the deciding game, making several breathtaking digs and saves on North kill attempts, but it only postponed the inevitable. The match went back and forth until it was 14-14.

Miranda, who finished with eight kills, threw up a block and two kills to spark the Knights into a 19-15 lead. A long serve and two mishits allowed the Bulldogs to fight back within 22-19, but that was as far as they got.

“I didn’t recognize the team that showed up for the first two games,” said Bulldogs coach Rene Van Horn, “but I did know the one out there for the third game.”

The Bulldogs (5-3, 2-2 district) got 22 digs from Lexi Goldberg and Madison Kobs handed out 15 assists. Alexis Ross contributed three service aces and Payton Van Horn had six kills.

Susie McKeever came through with an incredible 32 assists for the Red Knights (5-6, 2-2 district). Jessica Petrucci would up with six aces to go with nine digs while Erica Eden added 11 digs. In addition to her game-high kill total, Wagner also scored on five blocks.

Baker hosts Port Charlotte and North travels to Lemon Bay on Monday.

Riverdale 3, Mariner 0: After a slow start, the Mariner Tritons used a strong defensive effort to put pressure on Riverdale before falling 25-4, 25-16, 25-21 Thursday night.

Abby Willis led the Tritons with seven kills while Heather Getman, Tristan Miller, Cody Sawyer and Kady Ennis provided the defense with a flurry of digs.

The Tritons (5-4) visit Island Coast Monday.

Estero 3, Cape Coral 0: Cape Coral took Estero down to the wire in two of the three games Thursday night, but the Wildcats pulled out a straight-set victory 25-11, 25-20, 25-20.

Kristi Maselter led the Seahawks with five kills and four blocks while Katie Habuda added three kills and five blocks. Alison Harper contributed three kills and Erica Hoegler delivered four service aces.

The Seahawks (1-9, 0-5 district) host Dunbar Monday.

St. John Neumann 3, Oasis 1: Emma Nelson served eight straight points, including four aces, to spark Oasis to an opening-game win, but the Sharks lost that momentum and fell to St. John Neumann Thursday 21-25, 25-12, 25-16, 25-21.

The Sharks regained some spark in the fourth game and were tied at 20-20 before Neumann closed out the match.

The Sharks (1-5) play at First Baptist Academy of Naples Monday.

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