Springfield, Mo. (For OzarksSportsZone.com)  -- Nothing is better in high school sports than seeing two highly competitive and skilled teams facing off in an intense matchup.

The Republic Lady Tigers volleyball team traveled to Springfield Tuesday night to take the court against Kickapoo, and their undefeated record.

By the end of the three-set match, it was Kickapoo that came out on top. The Lady Chiefs won the match 26-24, 19-25, and 25-15.

Kickapoo took the first set in a constant back-and-forth sequence of plays, it was not until the final points that the Lady Chiefs pulled away. Lead by seniors Maris Below and Emily Thater, the team was able to hold on for the set win.

Republic got off to a quick start in the first set, taking an early 4-0 lead. A Lady Chiefs rally though negated the early run. The back-and-forth scoring continued through the first 15 points.

When it did appear Kickapoo was beginning to pull away with the first set, Republic battled back from a three-point deficit to tie it at 21-21. Even after Republic took the lead 23-22, Kickapoo went on a 4-1 run to win the first set.

“I think at the end of the first set our hitting finally got in a rhythm,” Kickapoo head volleyball coach Debbie Downs said. “We started with too many unforced errors.”

After the first set it was obvious that neither team was going to easily come away with the coming sets.

Republic took the second set 25-19. Much like the first set however, the teams stayed tied for the first half of the second. A 13-6 run by the Lady Tigers is what sealed the set for team.

“In the second set they had us out of our system with their attack,” Downs said.

Kickapoo attempted to quiet Republic’s big run with miniature runs of their own and timeouts, but it was not enough. The Lady Tigers earned the second set win.

“We let a couple errors get to us and we couldn’t recover,” Kickapoo senior Maris Below said.

With momentum heading into the third set, Republic had a chance to upset the Lady Chiefs on their home court.

A quick start by Kickapoo though was the difference in the final set. A 10-5 beginning by the Lady Chiefs set the tone for the third set. The energy and intensity was much more apparent in Kickapoo.

Their front line, constantly consisting of three players at least six feet tall, also played a key role in Kickapoo winning the final set 25-15.

Junior Rae Meyers captured the game point for Kickapoo with an impressive block to end the match.

Kickapoo is now 3-0 on the season. All three matches have come at home though.

The Lady Chiefs will have their first road test Thursday at Camdenton. Republic will next host Reed Springs Thursday.