Lady Cardinals clip LCM in volleyball

Bridge City and Little Cypress Mauriceville renewed their rivalry in volleyball just a few days after the two schools played a thrilling football game. The Lady Cardinals clawed their way to a tight four-set win over the Lady Bears during the match played on Tuesday, September 12, in Bridge City.

The last three of the four sets were each decided by two points. The first set was very close as well with the Lady Cardinals winning it by only three points.

Before the match began Bridge City honored their star player Demi Carter for her outstanding performances as a Lady Cardinal. Carter was recognized for achieving more than one thousand kills during her high school career.

Demi did not waste any time adding to her kill total making at least five winning shots early in the first set for Bridge City. The Lady Cardinals opened a 14-7 lead and had the momentum.

The Lady Bears staged a comeback to reduce the lead to three points. Asia Woodson, Lindi Perry, and Jazel Guilbeaux made kills that helped LCM get closer to trail 21-19.

The Lady Cardinals got an unreturnable serve from Lexi Nugier and Hensley Morgan nailed two kill shots late. Bridge City hung on for a 25-22 win in the opening set.

In the second set Little Cypress Mauriceville took its first lead of the match by scoring five straight points to go up 9-6 over the Lady Cardinals. Ava White made multiple volleys for the Lady Bears that could not be returned.

Makenna Knight made three kills and Morgan added two more as the Lady Cardinals kept the second set tight tied at twenty-one. Carter gave Bridge City a two-point lead 23-21 with another kill.

The Lady Bears scored a point to get the serve back. Perry registered a kill and White hit an unreturnable serve as LCM scored the last four points of the set to win it 25-23 to even the match at a set apiece.

The intensity of the third set could be felt as the girls on both teams were striving to gain an advantage in the match. The Lady Bears won five straight points with kills from Woodson, White, and Paisley Angelle to go ahead 9-6.

There was no fold in the Lady Cardinals as they would take nine of the next thirteen points. Cambree LaComb was setting the ball beautifully to assist on multiple kills by Morgan and Knight.

Jada Montagne of LCM made two strong serves that regained a 16-15 advantage for the Lady Bears. The next eight points were split to make the score 20-19 in favor of Little Cypress Mauriceville.

The Lady Bears extended their lead to two points before Bridge City took the last four points of the set. Knight made a kill for the winning point 25-23 that gave the Lady Cardinals a two sets to one edge.

Bridge City appeared ready to make short work of the fourth set grabbing leads of 11-8 and 15-11, but Little Cypress Mauriceville battled back to take a 19-16 lead. Montagne served four unreturnable balls and Woodson had two kills during the six-point run by the Lady Bears.

Lady Cardinal Hensley Morgan made a kill that tied the set at 22 before Kaylee Britten served an ace to put Bridge City ahead 23-22. The set and the match closed as it began with the focus on Demi Carter who made three kills in the last six points to secure the 27-25 victory in the fourth set for the Lady Cardinals.

The atmosphere in the Bridge City High School gymnasium was outstanding from the Lady Cardinal and the Lady Bear fans as attested to by Bridge City Coach Savanah DeLuna. "It's always an exciting match when we play LCM. Records don't matter, it doesn't matter what kind of streak you're on, whenever we play our rival it's going to be like this. We had an amazing crowd, two great student sections, and that makes a difference in the atmosphere. It's always tough when we play the Lady Bears," DeLuna responded.

Lady Bear Coach Jonathan Snipes commented on the tight loss to Bridge City. "I thought we played very hard. We did a lot of good things, in the end we just made a few more little mistakes than Bridge City did, but we can tip our hats to Bridge City they did a good job," Snipes replied.