It was close but no cigar for the Ironton Lady Fighting Tigers.

Ironton played two close matches back-to-back but failed to get a win as they lost volleyball matches Wednesday and Thursday.

On Wednesday, Ironton fell to Ashland (Ky.) 19-25, 25-19, 20-25 and 12-25.

Andrea Rudmann had 11 points (8 aces) and Sarah Cartmell 8 points. Cartmell had 12 kills and eight digs while Rudmann had 10 kills, 12 assists, 4 blocks and 6 digs.

Ali Markins had 7 points and five digs, Mandi Boykin 4 points and 17 assists, Sara Hacker 4 digs and four blocks.

In the reserve match, Ironton fell 18-25 and 20-25. Kayla Wileman had 9 points ( 3 aces) and 3 kills, Kelly Cochran 8 points (4 aces), Rachel Walker 5 points and 4 kills, Nikki Harbolt 4 points and Allison Hicks and Jessica Weaver 3 points each.

Thursday's match against Portsmouth went five games before Portsmouth came away with a 28-26, 25-23, 22-25, 14-25 and 15-10 win.

Rudmann led with 21 points (8 aces), 11 kills, 16 digs, 14 assists and 3 blocks. Cartmell finished with 10 points, 21 digs, 14 kills and 4 blocks.

Markins added 10 points and 14 digs, Mandi Boykin 9 points, 12 assists, 16 digs and 8 kills, Casey Brislin 7 points, Tracy Mays 6 points and 14 digs, and Hacker 9 points and 13 digs.

In the junior varsity match, Ironton lost 18-25 and 20-25.

Weaver had

10 points (3 aces) and Walker 5 points and 3 kills. Cochran added 5 points and Harbolt 3 points. Hicks and Wileman had 2 points apiece.

All points listed are non-rally points.

Ironton plays at 5:30 p.m. Monday at Portsmouth West and hosts Boyd County (Ky.) at 5 p.m. Tuesday.