DALLAS, TX -- The Bishop Lynch volleyball team opened up district play last night against cross-town rival Ursuline Academy. In what was anticipated to be a close match, the Friars swept the Bears 3-0 (25-17, 25-17, 25-23) in a fantastic home environment.
Bishop Lynch had won the previous seven matches against Ursuline dating back to 2019, but the Bears came into this game with a 13-3 record with big wins in non-district play. They also have two players who are currently committed to Notre Dame, so it was safe to say they were confident going into the match.
Unfortunately for the Bears, the Friars were also confident and they were playing in front of the best student section in the country.
BLVB was amped from the first serve and quickly built a big lead in the first set. Ursuline Called their first timeout when the Friars went up 13-5. The Bears had to quickly call their final timeout of the first set when the Friars went up 17-7.Â
With precise hitting and solid defense, the Friars closed out the first set 25-17 taking the 1-0 advantage. BLVB finished the first set with 10 kills and a .286 hitting percentage while also getting three aces.
Avery Seitz led the team with four kills in the first set.
The second set did not start out as well for the Friars as this time Ursuline would come out of the gates playing well. Ursuline held a 5-2 lead and would hold onto the lead until the Friars tied it up at 9-9. After taking the lead 10-9, BLVB never looked back, getting up 19-15 and eventually taking the set 25-17.
Ava Wennerstrom and
Claire Hatfield led the Friars in kills in the second set, each getting four. As a team in the second set, the Friars had one of their best hitting performances of the season with 16 kills on a .393 hitting percentage.
The third set proved to be the most dramatic between the rivals as Bishop Lynch wanted a sweep and Ursuline had not been swept in a best-of-five match all season. After competitive back-and-forth play, the Friars started to pull away near the end by grabbing a 21-16 lead. But the Bears bounced back and tied it up at 23-23. We have seen this with BLVB this year, most recently against Plano West when they were up 23-18 in a set and dropped it.
This time around though the Friars came out of a timeout and finished the game strong thanks to the Seitz twins. Avery Sietz had her final kill of the night with a beautifully placed strike to the back corner making it 24-23 Friars. It was then
Riley Seitz's turn to serve and the senior currently leads BLVB in aces, though she had not had one yet this match. Sure enough, the senior middle had her best serve of the night and aced the Bears giving the Friars a 25-23 set win and a 3-0 match win.
This victory over Ursuline gives the Friars eight straight over their rival. It is also the Friars' first district opening victory since 2021, where BL defeated Ursuline 3-0 at Jane Neuhoff Athletic Center.
Game Leaders:
Kills:
Avery Seitz | 9
Assists:
Cate Hatfield &
Maddie Gappelberg | 11
Digs:
Maddie Smotherman | 15
Blocks:
Madison Pflum,
Avery Seitz,
Riley Seitz &
Claire Hatfield | .5
Aces:
Cate Hatfield | 4
SUB-VARSITY
JV1: The JV1 team lost to a competitive three-set match to Ursuline 2-1 last night.
JV2: The JV2 team competed in Pool Play of the Garland ISD tournament yesterday. They went 1-1-1 with a 2-0 win over Wilmer Hutchins, a 1-1 tie to Rowlett and a 2-0 defeat to Red Oak.
Freshmen: The freshmen squad dropped their game to Ursuline 2-0 last night.
NEXT UP:
The Friars host district favorite Prestonwood Christian Academy next Tuesday, September 12 in the Competition Gym. First serve will be around 6:00 p.m.
AROUND DISTRICT:
Nolan Catholic defeated Parish Episcopal, 3-0.
John Paul II defeated Trinity Christian Academy, 3-0.
Prestonwood Christian Academy defeated Hockaday, 3-1
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