Holding serve and serving tough proved a dominant combination for South Whidbey volleyball against Sultan on Tuesday.

The Falcons tallied 15 serving aces against the Turks, including a series of four aces in five points by junior Abby Hodson. South Whidbey rolled against Sultan in the first two sets, winning 25-11 and 25-13. Facing a quick sweep, Sultan took advantage of South Whidbey’s reserve players in the third set, rallying from a 23-17 deficit to tie 23-23.

Falcon head coach Mandy Jones called back her starters, namely senior hitter Mackenzie Hezel, for the final two points as South Whidbey won 25-23. Hezel tallied nine kills and nine digs.

Hodson led South Whidbey with 10 kills, 13 digs and six aces. Meagan Longdon, the Falcons’ senior setter, set 29 assists and logged two aces. Falcon junior hitter Anne Madsen recorded 11 digs and nine kills.

A 3-1 loss Thursday to Archbishop Murphy knocked South Whidbey to fourth place in the conference. South Whidbey challenged the second-place Wildcats early, losing 28-26 in the first before claiming the second 25-22. The Wildcats recovered to claim the next two 25-18 and 25-19.

The Falcons’ position is locked at second place as a 1A school, however, for the district tournament.