Few teams have been able to get the better off Class 1A's second-ranked Fleming this season. On Wednesday, one finally did.

Fleming players at the net in their match against Lone Star Sept. 23, 2021. (Karianne Donnelson/OTSPORTSCHEK)

Throughout their first 11 matchups of the season, the Wildcats downed nearly every opponent they faced in three straight sets. Only two, Class 2A's third-ranked Wiggins and Class 1A's No. 4 Briggsdale, managed to give them grief. The Wildcats won out against Wiggins in a 3-2 final in their third contest of the season, then dropped a 3-0 heartbreaker to Briggsdale.

The Wildcats didn't let that setback affect them, clearly, as they went on to win their next six matches with little pushback from any of their opponents. That is, until they met up with Valley on Wednesday.

The Vikings, who are earning votes in CHSAANow.com's Class 3A poll, plundered the Wildcats in five sets and stole victory from a team that has rarely given wins away. As was to be expected, though, Fleming didn't make it easy.

Valley claimed victory in the first set, but just barely, as it finished with a 25-23 score. Fleming bounced back to do the exact same in the second set. The Wildcats carried that momentum into the third frame, where they won by a 25-19 score to take the 2-1 lead and put the pressure back on the Vikings.

The Vikings responded in kind, stealing the fourth set back with an identical 25-19 score. They sealed the deal after that when they took the fifth frame by a 15-9 final.

With the setback, the Wildcats fell to 10-2 on the season but will have a good chance at redemption on Friday at Weldon Valley, which currently holds a 7-6 record. The last time the two squads met, over a month ago, Fleming walked away with a 3-0 win with set scores of 25-14, 25-21 and 25-20.