SOUTH DEERFIELD — The Frontier boys volleyball team watched its 2-0 lead evaporate in a heartbeat. The Redhawks led the third set 23-21 but Belchertown scored the next four points to steal the set and extend the match. In the fourth set, the Orioles squeaked out another 25-23 victory to force a fifth and final frame.

Despite trailing 3-1 early in the fifth, it was Frontier’s turn to battle back. Tegan Dexter put down a couple of key kills as part of his 30-kill performance, and Johnathan Olvera sealed the Redhawk win with a well-placed ball in the corner to take the fifth set 15-12.

Frontier (4-6) won its second straight match, this one a barn burner by the score of 25-17, 25-15, 23-25, 23-25, 15-12 on Thursday night at Goodnow Gymnasium in South Deerfield. Belchertown dropped to 1-10 in the gauntlet that is the East Division.

“I told these guys after the second set, Belchertown plays a tough schedule like we do, and our records don’t necessarily reflect how good they are,” Frontier co-head coach Sean MacDonald said. “Belchertown made a lot of errors in the first two sets, and then we made a lot in sets three and four to lose by two twice.”

Dexter’s 30 kills were a match-high, and he also added two aces, seven digs and a block. Will Petrin blocked five shots for Frontier, Tavo Vincent-Warner was terrific setting up his teammates as he dished out 49 assists and Will Reading put down 11 kills.

On several occasions when the Orioles began to steal momentum from the Redhawks, Frontier would go back to the well — feeding Dexter, a senior, for another thunderous kill.

“I wish we had another year or two with him,” Frontier co-head coach Courtney Parent said. “We works very hard, he’s coachable, he takes what you say and applies it. I feel like he’s getting better every practice and every game, and for him to have a huge game like that was huge for us because we needed someone to step up.”

Frontier returns to the court on Monday when it travels to Longmeadow at 6 p.m.

Baseball

Franklin Tech 11, Mahar 3 — The Eagles broke things open in the sixth inning, as Brody Hicks drove in three runs with a triple before Hunter Donahue followed with a two-run homer, helping Tech pick up a Bi-County North win in Turners on Thursday. 

Hicks finished a home run away from the cycle, George Gutierrez doubled, Nick Prasol singled while Tyler Yetter tallied two hits in the win. Levi Clark struck out seven while Gavin Crossman added two strikeouts in the win. 

Matt Vitello struck out four and added a single at the plate while Freeland Ringer and Clayde Thompson each tallied two hits for Mahar. 

Turners 8, Smith Academy 5 — The Thunder scored five runs in the fourth and hung on after the Falcons scored four in the sixth to earn a Bi-County North victory on Thursday in Turners. 

Julian Kaiser went the distance and struck out 10, Liam Kerivan drove in two with a single, Kainen Stevens and Brody Girard both tallied two hits, Trevor Lyons and Freilyn Abarua each added a hit and an RBI in the win. 

Track & field

The William Kane Invitational Track Meet took place on Thursday in Holyoke, with Frontier, Mahar, Mohawk Trail and Turners Falls all competing. The developmental meet includes freshmen and sophomores from throughout western Massachusetts.

Frontier’s Ezra Rich won the boys discus (122 feet, 7 inches) while Mahar’s Stellina Moore won the girls pole vault (9-6) and Mohawk Trail’s Morgan Raffa was the winner in the girls javelin (113-0). 

Here are the top 10 finishers from each school (name, event, place, time/distance): 

Frontier boys: Grayden Gifford, high jump, 7th place, 5 feet, 4 inches; Henry Plesant, pole vault, 3, 9-6

Frontier girls: Olive Klaus, 400 hurdles, 10, 1:24.72; Liv Christensen, 2 mile, 8, 13:14.26; Miriam Toschik, discus, 8, 65-0; Bailey Cusson, javelin, 2, 101-11; Thaily Ordaz, javelin, 10, 56-6; Ela Brown, pole vault, 2, 8-0; Klaus, pole vault, 3, 7-6; Christensen, pole vault, 8, 7-0; Mara Allium, pole vault, 9, 7-0; Gemma Parsons, shot put, 9, 24-5; Phoebe Radner, 800, 6, 2:36.73, 4x800, 5, 12:01.61, 4x400, 4, 4:40.76, 4x400, 9, 4:16.81

Mahar boys: Herlackmung Calypso, 200, 10, 25.45; Coltin Fausett, pole vault, 2, 9-6

Mahar girls: Stellina Moore, 100 hurdles, 3, 18.3; Moore, high jump, 5, 4-8; Kathryn McGinnis, high jump, 6, 4-6; Taylor Paluk, high jump, 8, 4-4; Paluk, pole vault, 3, 7-6; Madilyn Moore, shot put, 6, 25-8.75, 4x100, 2, 54.43

Mohawk Trail boys: Tanner Biagini, 100, 5, 11.97; Biagini, 200, 5, 24.26; Biagini, long jump, 5, 18-5; Wyatt Alling, pole vault, 5, 8-6; Tristan Feinstein, pole vault, 6, 8-0; Danny Gougeon, pole vault, 7, 7-6, 4x800, 10, 10:04.51

Mohawk Trail girls: Heidi Helenek, 400, 10, 1:06.47; Virginia Krezmien, mile, 2, 5:36.65; Natalie Lanoue, 2 mile, 9, 13:18.61; Morgan Raffa, discus, 4, 74-5; Lanoue, high jump, 3, 4-10; Krezmien, high jump, 7, 4-6; Zephyr Jetzon, long jump, 9, 14-6.5; Lydia Pinkham, pole vault, 6, 7-0, 4x400, 6, 4:45.58

Turners girls: Jakhia Williams, 100, 5, 13.46; Abby Lenois, high jump, 8, 4-4