It took five games Thursday night before International Falls’ volleyball team won its opening match of the 2011 season at home against Mountain Iron-Buhl, 28-26, 14-25, 25-10, 22-25, 15-9.

“This early in the season our two teams are very comparable, so it kind of comes down to the team that can make the least amount of mistakes,” said Bronco head coach Erin Shikowsky. “We were fortunate enough to come out on top.”

Falls led the opening game 17-8 going into a timeout. The Rangers waged a comeback with a 23-23 tie, before the Broncos were able to edge out MI-B by two.

After splitting the next two games with lopsided victories, the Rangers held off Falls in game four to force a fifth and deciding game up to 15 points.

The Broncos took the early lead in the final game and held on to win the match, 3-2.

Falls’ statistical leaders included:

• Reva Renollet, nine set assists, six digs, three blocks.

• Tessa Walls, eight digs, three blocks, seven kills.

• Jenna Vergeldt, four kills, seven blocks, three ace serves.

• Hailey Fentem, five blocks.

MI-B’s statistical leaders included:

• Allie Knuti, 14 kills, four blocks.

• Kathy Ostman, four kills, three blocks.

• Laura Ostman, four kills.

Kirsten Hansen, 14 set assists.

Dakotah Winans, 15 digs, four kills.

Shikowsky said she hopes the Broncos will learn from the season opener against the Rangers to prepare for next week’s road matches against Two Harbors and nearby rival Littlefork-Big Falls.

“We’re looking forward to battling both of those teams,” she said. “I just think that (Thursday night) we learned just a lot of little things that we need to work on, and that’s how it’s going to be for the first half of the season is lots of learning.”

L-BF 3, ME 1

Sarah Bradley won her first match as Littlefork-Big Falls’ head coach Thursday night when the Vikings were victorious at home against Mesabi East in four games, 25-15, 25-12, 22-25, 25-13.

LB-F statistical leaders included:

• DyAna Imhof, 12 kills.

• Paige DeLack, 21 set assists.

• Abby Thompson, six blocks.

• Courtney Pfeifer, 11 digs.