Ector, Texas -- It was the District 21-1A opener Friday evening, but it felt more like the playoffs when the No. 16-ranked Dodd City Lady Hornets came buzzing into the Eagles' nest to take on the No. 8-ranked Ector Lady Eagles.

Local volleyball fans were treated to a five-set thriller between two of the top-20 programs in Class 1A.

Dodd City had everything working in a 25-14 win in the opener.

In a sign of things to come, Ector turned back Dodd City, 32-30, in the second set, as Dodd City was unable to overcome seven service errors.

In the third set, Dodd City pulled out to a 15-9 lead and then held off a late rally by Ector to post a 25-20 victory.

Ector responded with a 25-20 win in the fourth set to force a tiebreaker.

In the tiebreaker, the teams were all tangled up at 5-5 before Ector began pulling away for a 15-10 victory in the tiebreaker.

Gracyn Shindler led Dodd City with 32 kills and Kodi Dorau put down 20 kills.

Kayleigh McBrayer had a busy night with 54 assists to her Lady Hornet hitters.

Kendyl Lindsey had a team-high four aces and Caroline Lackey had three blocks.

Dodd City will host Savoy on Tuesday, October 6, while Ector will travel to Miller Grove.

But go ahead and circle October 16 on the calendar because that's when Ector and Dodd City will meet again in a match likely to decide the district title.

DC lost to Ector 25-14, 30-32, 25-20, 18-25, 10-15

Kills
Shindler 32
Dorau 20
Lackey 3
McBrayer 3
Clark 2
Lindsey 2

Assists
McBrayer 54

Digs
Shindler 45
Chaney 37
Lindsey 18
Dorau 13
McBrayer 10
Camp 10

7 missed serves in the second set that we lost by 2

Aces
Lindsey 4
Dorau 2
Camp 2
McBrayer 2

Blocks
Lackey 3
Shindler 1