DALLAS, TX -- After not having a win since September, the Bishop Lynch volleyball team got back into the win column last night with a 3-1 victory over Nolan Catholic. The Friars (20-14, 6-3) not only got the much-needed district victory over the Vikings (21-13, 4-6) but they got to do it in front of Club Friar as it was Future Friar Night.
Cate Hatfield having a great match is joining death and taxes as life's most certain things. The William & Mary commit recorded another double-double with 22 assists and 20 digs while also getting six kills. Overall, the team didn't hit incredibly well, just .146, but four Friars did record eight kills or better.
Paloma Gonzalez had the most success at the net as the senior had eight kills on a .316 hitting percentage.
Bishop Lynch had one of their better defensive matches of the year. As a team, the Friars had 86 digs and 7.0 blocks which is their second-most in any match this season.
Delaney Moon and
Maddie Smotherman joined Hatfield with double-digit digs as Moon grabbed 14 while Smotherman had 12.
Last night's win gave Bishop Lynch volleyball 20 on the season. This is their 15th straight season with 20 or more wins dating back to the 2008 season, excluding the shortened Covid-19 season. To put this into perspective, the last time the volleyball team didn't win 20 more games in a season, freshman
Maia Raleigh wasn't born yet.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
The Friars jumped to an early lead in the first set. Behind
Riley Seitz and
Ava Wennerstroms' four kills each, BL was able to take the first set 25-17.
The second set was BL's best statistical set of the match as the team hit .260 with 18 kills. Gonzalez led the way with six kills on just 10 attempts and
Avery Seitz recorded four. This led to another 25-17 set win.
In the third set, the Friars got behind and at one point trailed 13-6. They tried to fight back but Nolan's defense kept them in the match as the Vikings forced a fourth set with a 25-20 win.
BL was able to close the door on any comeback attempt in the fourth set with a 25-18 win. Five Friars had at least two kills in the fourth set, led by
Madison Pflum who recorded three. Moon had seven of her 14 digs in the fourth set.
Bishop Lynch Game Leaders:
Kills:
Madison Pflum | 9
Assists:
Cate Hatfield | 22
Digs:
Cate Hatfield | 20
Blocks:
Madison Pflum | 3
Aces:
Avery Seitz,
Cate Hatfield &
Maddie Smotherman | 3
SUB-VARSITY
JV1: The junior varsity team made quick work of Nolan last night, winning 2-0. They improved their record to 18-4, 7-1 with just three games remaining.
Freshmen: The freshman team had a big 2-0 victory over Nolan last night. They are now 8-6, 2-3 on the season with just one game remaining.
AROUND TAPPS LAST NIGHT:
6A - District 1
Prestonwood Christian Academy defeated John Paul II, 3-0
Ursuline Academy defeated Trinity Christian Academy, 3-0
TAPPS 6A - DISTRICT 1 STANDINGS
1) Prestonwood: 30-4, 9-0
3) Ursuline Academy: 20-7, 7-3
3) Bishop Lynch: 20-14, 6-3
4) John Paul II: 26-11, 6-4
5) Nolan Catholic: 21-16, 4-6
6) Parish Episcopal: 4-10-2, 2-7
7) Trinity Christian Academy: 6-22-1, 0-9
NEXT UP:
In the most important game of the season so far, the Friars travel to the Bird Cage to take on John Paul II on October 17. First serve will be at 6:00 p.m.
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