Hosting Lubbock Monterey with their dimming playoff hopes on the line, the Cooper volleyball team played with the urgency of a squad fighting for its postseason life, outlasting the Lady Plainsmen for a thrilling 26-28, 25-14, 25-23, 23-25, 15-13 victory Tuesday at Cougar Gym.

In a back-and-forth match that saw four of the five sets decided by the minimum two points, the youthful Lady Cougars (11-26 overall, 2-8 in District 4-5A) did just enough to escape with the win, pulling within two victories of the Lady Plainsmen (20-22, 4-7) with two matches remaining.

Now coach Nora Campbell’s team will need to win at Lubbock High (10-28, 1-9) on Friday and at home against Lubbock Coronado (15-26, 3-7) next Tuesday and hope LHS can knock off Monterey on the road on the final night of the regular season to earn a rubber match against the Lady Plainsmen for the district’s final playoff spot.