DALLAS, TX -- The Bishop Lynch volleyball program opened up its season with a thrilling back-and-forth five-set 3-2 victory over Coppell High School in front of a rocking Friar Nation on Tuesday night.
The game could not have started out more perfectly for the Friars, opening up their lead to 17-6 before winning the first set 25-10. As a team, the Friars hit their best in the first match with a hitting percentage of .458. It wasn't just one Friar doing well, either, as six players recorded a kill and
Avery Seitz led the way with four total.
In the second set, BL had big leads late of 17-13 and 23-19 but Coppell fought back to take the second set 25-23 and even the match at one.
Avery Seitz continued to play well for the Friar offense, collecting a team-high four kills in the set.
The Friars got back on track in the third set behind more great hitting from their offense.
Claire Hatfield recorded four kills on .333 hitting and
Aven Crosby had her best set of the night recording three kills to help BL take the third set 25-21.
After the Friars took the lead again, the Cowgirls once again tied it up with a competitive 26-24 set win to force a fifth set. In the fourth set, the Friars were led by
Claire Hatfield and
Cate Hatfield, each having three kills.
In the crucial fifth set, the twin connection of the Hatfields came into full effect as Claire finished with four kills, all of them set up by her twin sister, Cate. This helped the Friars open up an early 4-0 lead. Not shockingly, Coppell once again fought back like they had all match and took a 10-9 lead in the fifth.
A Cowgirl serve into the net and a huge block from
Cate Hatfield and
Riley Seitz, and the Friars had quickly retaken the lead 11-10 and never looked back.
Cate Hatfield's seventh kill of the match was a thunderous game-winner to make it 15-10 BL and give the Friars the 3-2 victory.
This is the first time since 2020 that the varsity team has started off their season with a victory, and the first time since 2017 their opening match went five sets.
Claire Hatfield led all Friars with 13 kills on .393 hitting.
Avery Seitz and
Riley Seitz each finished with double-digit
s kills as well, having 11 and 10 respectively.
Cate Hatfield led BL in assists with 23 while
Maddie Gappelberg added 16.
Three Friars recorded double-digit digs with
Delaney Moon leading the way with 17 while
Maddie Smotherman had 16 and
Aven Crosby recorded 14. Smotherman and Crosby also led the team in aces, each having two.
Sub-Varsity:
It was a great night all around for BL as the Friars swept Coppell going 4-0. All fourth games went the distance as well.
JV1: Defeated Coppell 2-1 to move to 1-0 on the season.
JV2: Defeated Coppell 2-1 to move to 1-0 on the season.
Freshman: Defeated Coppell 2-1 to move to 1-0 on the season.
Next Up:
Bishop Lynch hits the road for their first road game of the season on Thursday to play in the "Battle of Peavy" as the Friars take on Bryan Adams.
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