PORTLAND — As it rained outside, the Deering School gym began to heat up Thursday night when the volleyball team hosted the Massabesic Mustangs. The Mustangs warmed up over the course of three set and kept the score very close before the end of the game.

The first match was a lukewarm 24-5 with a low energy start for Massbesic. The Mustangs got off to a better start in the second match, leading 2-0 with excellent serves and a tight front line.

What the Mustangs lack in control they make up for in power and enthusiasm, returning serves with force and inadvertently sending balls out of bounds in Rams territory, allowing Deering to gain on them 6-2.

The set became fast-paced with a lot of points being made very quickly. The Mustangs fought back hard, with a lot of fortitude and bruised shins from attempted digs until Deering was up 21-11.

The Rams slowed down their advance and gave up points from small mistakes, such as serving the ball into the net and failure to return service due to communication confusion. The Mustangs were audibly heated up at this point, digging into the gym floor and cheering teammates from the sidelines until the second set ended, 25-17 Deering.

The third set had high energy from the start, Massabesic leading 3-2. The Rams caught up when a ball sent rattling around the ceiling’s retracted basketball hoops returned to earth onto the Mustang side with no one able to reach it in time.

The Rams seemed to form up at this point, becoming more synchronized in their plays: pass, set, crush, repeat. Deering led 7-4 when Avery Donovan sent a powerhouse spike onto the Mustang floor after beautiful teamwork setting the shot up.

Massabesic’s response to the discipline of Deering seemed to be try harder, move faster. The points moved slower as Massabesic kept the ball in play longer and kept sending the ball back over the net no matter how hard Deering returned it.

At 12-7, Deering’s Kaylee Helmick ended a long period of volleying between sides with a vicious crush onto the Mustang floor. The third set ended 25-14. If you hadn’t known the Deering team was only in its second varsity year, you never would have been able to tell.

Pointing to two girls setting up spikes near the net, Rams coach Larry Nichols said, “See that spontaneous and unrehearsed practice? They just love the sport. The seniors here tonight, they started playing two and half years ago when I first threw a volleyball at them and look at where we are now.”

“I think we did pretty well, especially since it’s a senior night and we want to make a good name for ourselves,” said a Deering player, “Massabesic did pretty well, their digs and their passes were on point and their free balls, too. We did a good job of calling. Sets from Maddy [Broda] were pretty good and kills from Kaylee [Helmick] were great.”

Deering is currently 9-4 for the season. The Rams play at Cape Elizabeth Oct. 15 at 4:30. Massabesic will host Marshwood Oct. 15 at 10 a.m. Preliminaries begin Oct. 20.