There were many critical points in Thursday’s five-game volleyball match between the Ida Baker Bulldogs and host North Fort Myers Red Knights. For the Bulldogs, though, THE pivotal moment came at the start of game four.

Trailing two games to one, Baker junior Chelsea Shafer elected to use a running jump serve to give the Red Knights a different look. She pounded three straight aces, giving the Bulldogs a huge momentum shift as well as the lead in game four.

In the decisive fifth game, Shafer went back to a safer, more conventional serve, but it also was effective. She served five straight points to put the Bulldogs ahead 7-2 and they finished off the Red Knights 14-25, 25-15, 21-25, 25-14, 15-7.

“That’s the coaches’ decision,” Shafer said referring to the different service styles. “If we’re really far ahead or if she thinks I can make it in, she’ll tell me to hit a (jump) serve and scare the other team. It seemed like it brought up our intensity a lot.”

Both teams were greeted by a large number of supporters. It was the second meeting of the season between the Bulldogs (10-7) and Red Knights (7-13), with the first match also going to the Bulldogs in five intense games.

It also was senior night for the Red Knights, who recognized seniors Alyssa Dougherty, Kayla Ramey, Tesla Richards, Mariah Fernandez, Courtney Allen and Denasia Smith prior to the match.

“I’m proud of our kids, especially our seniors,” North coach Jeremy Ridgeo said. “They laid it all out and put it all on the line. It was impressive and fun to watch.”

Baker, as it has done all season, rotated several players throughout the match. The production level was consistent regardless of the lineup and many different players came up big.

Junior Taylor Van Horn led the offensive attack with 14 kills. Shafer tallied nine kills and four aces, and junior Taryn Maymon added nine kills. Chelsey Cline finished with 21 digs and Deonnah Findley had 19 assists.

In game one, the Bulldogs controlled play early on and built a 12-10 lead. The game shifted, though, as the Bulldogs made several errors and infractions. The Red Knights seized the opportunity and went on a 15-2 run the remainder of the game. A block by Smith finished it off.

In game two, the Bulldogs got strong serving from Julia Robery and Findley, resulting in a 9-6 lead. The Red Knights fought back to make it 13-13, but senior Caitlin Holloway blasted a shot to the corner putting the Bulldogs up one.

Another key contributor was freshman Payton Van Horn. She missed some time earlier this season with an injury, but has become more of an offensive threat as the season has progressed. She had two of her five kills in game two, helping the Bulldogs take an 18-13 advantage.

“As a freshman, there isn’t as much expected as a junior or senior,” said her sister, Taylor, one of the team captains, “but she really has stepped up and we’re all really proud of how she’s playing now.”

With the match knotted at one game apiece, the Red Knights regained control in game three. Ramey served the first five points and the Red Knights never trailed.

Ramey (19 digs) and Dougherty (15 digs) led the Red Knights, defensively, while Smith contributed six blocks and Richards had four kills. The Red Knights, though, weren’t able to close out the Bulldogs.

After the Bulldogs took a 7-2 lead in game five, the Red Knights got back to 9-7 on a shot by Ramey and a block by Smith, but then the Bulldogs scored the last seven points.

The closing stretch included a blast by Holloway and a tap at the net by Kali Nordquist.

“Our big thing was heart,” Van Horn said of defeating the Red Knights in five games for the second time. “We kept our intensity up and never quit.”

Baker hosts South Fort Myers Monday in the final regular season match before hosting an LCAC crossover match Thursday. North travels to Charlotte Monday for its final regular season contest.