GREEN RIVER — The Green River Lady Wolves defeated the Rock Springs Lady Tigers in four sets Thursday night in the annual Serving Up a Cure volleyball match, earning a 3-1 victory in front of a local crowd.

Green River won the opening set 25-17, but Rock Springs responded with a 25-18 win in the second to tie the match. The Lady Wolves regained control with a 26-24 victory in the third set and closed out the match with a 25-23 win in the fourth.

The annual event brings the two Sweetwater County programs together to raise awareness for breast cancer. The matchup was previously known as Dig Pink, but according to Green River athletic director Tony Beardsley, the schools are transitioning to Serving Up a Cure to avoid trademark complications. The new name will be used for the annual event going forward while maintaining its focus on breast cancer awareness.

Green River controlled much of the opening set after Rock Springs took an early 1-0 lead. Senior Reghan Obray helped spark the Lady Wolves with a service ace and a stretch of seven consecutive points that gave Green River a 7-1 advantage.

Rock Springs attempted to stay within reach, with Kaycie Muniz recording kills and Payton Tomison adding a service ace, but Green River maintained its lead. The Lady Wolves pulled away late, scoring five straight points to extend their advantage to 19-12. Elexes Heward added a block, Obray recorded another ace, and Athena Clement contributed a kill and a service ace as Green River closed out the set 25-17.

The Lady Tigers responded in the second set, building an early advantage and keeping Green River from establishing the same control it had in the opener. Rock Springs held a 15-11 lead before Adalyne Schweitzer recorded a service ace to help extend the advantage.

Green River made a late push, with senior Nicole Wilson and Vivian Murray recording kills to cut into the deficit to 21-17, but Rock Springs maintained its lead. Annistyn Nielsen added a kill late in the set, but the Lady Tigers finished with a 25-18 win to even the match at one set apiece.

The third set proved to be the closest of the night, with both teams trading runs and leads throughout. Green River opened with a 3-0 advantage, highlighted by a Clement service ace, before Rock Springs answered to tie the set at 3-3. The Lady Wolves built a 19-13 lead, but the Lady Tigers gradually worked their way back into the match.

Rock Springs rallied and eventually took a 20-19 lead after a run of seven consecutive points. Muniz added a kill during the stretch, and Blayke Daley recorded a service ace to help the Lady Tigers move in front.

Green River answered, and the teams continued trading points through the closing stretch. Obray recorded a kill to tie the set at 24-24, and a Rock Springs error gave the Lady Wolves a 25-24 lead. Clement then finished the set with a kill to give Green River a 26-24 victory and a 2-1 match lead.

Rock Springs again challenged Green River in the fourth set, taking an early lead and holding the advantage through several exchanges. Hannah Millemon recorded a kill to tie the set at 7-7 before giving the Lady Tigers the lead on the next point.

Green River responded as the set continued, with Obray contributing a block and a kill, while Wilson and Murray helped the Lady Wolves stay close. Rock Springs built an 18-15 lead after Daley recorded a service ace, but Green River rallied to tie the set at 18-18 on a kill by Nielsen.

The teams traded points again late in the set, with Millemon tying the score at 21-21 for Rock Springs. Green River regained the lead on a block before moving ahead 24-22. After a Rock Springs point cut the margin to one, Clement finished the match with an attack that the Lady Tigers could not return, securing the 25-23 set victory and the 3-1 match win.

The victory gives Green River a win in the teams’ second meeting of the season after the Lady Wolves also defeated Rock Springs in five sets in September.

Both teams will return to conference play Friday to close out the regular season, with Green River traveling to Evanston and Rock Springs heading to Casper to face Natrona County.

Green River’s result against Evanston will determine its seeding, as a win would secure the No. 1 seed in the 4A Southwest Quadrant, while a loss would leave the Lady Wolves as the No. 2 seed. Rock Springs is locked into the No. 3 seed in the 4A Northwest Quadrant and will face the loser of Green River and Evanston in the first round of regionals next week in Jackson.