DALLAS – After dropping the season series to Ursuline a year ago, the Bishop Lynch volleyball team opened district play with a statement win, defeating the Bears 3-1 on Thursday night at the Jane Neuhoff Athletic Center.
Bishop Lynch 3, Ursuline 0 (25-27, 25-17, 25-21, 25-20)
The win marked the Friars' (18-9, 1-0) first victory at Ursuline since 2022 and was fueled by three double-doubles from Maia Raleigh (42 assists, 10 digs), Kylie Love (15 kills, 11 digs), and Camila Figueroa (10 kills, 16 digs).
Ursuline (9-19-1, 0-1) rode the energy of its home crowd to take a back-and-forth first set, 27-25, despite being outhit by the Friars (.227 to .178).
Senior outside hitter Kylie Love, returning after missing five matches, provided the spark in the second set. She tallied three kills to lead the way as Bishop Lynch evened the match with a 25-17 win. Charlie Wells also chipped in three kills and a block to shift momentum back to the Friars.
In the pivotal third set, Bishop Lynch jumped out to a 17-9 lead before Ursuline clawed back to close within two at 22-20. Love responded with three straight points to secure a 25-21 set victory, with Maddie Sue Pflum adding four kills and a block in the frame.
The Friars' offense reached another gear in the fourth. Hitting a match-high .444 with 18 kills, Bishop Lynch closed the door on Ursuline with a 25-20 win capped by a powerful kill from Emory Mooney. Love and Figueroa combined for 12 kills without committing an error in the final set.
STAT LEADERS
» Kills: Kylie Love, 15
» Assists: Maia Raleigh, 42
» Digs: Camila Figueroa, 16
» Blocks: Maddie Sue Pflum, 4
» Hitting Percentage: Kylie Love, .538%
» Aces: Kylie Love & Katie Rebuck, 2
TEAM QUOTES
Head Coach Shea Jenkins on last night's win...
"We had a tough pre-district schedule with some gritty wins early in the season. That experience helped us stay composed and pull out a win in a tough environment for our district opener."
Senior middle Maddie Sue Pflum on fighting back after dropping the first set...
"After losing that first set 25–27, we focused on resetting and sticking to our game plan. Our two goals were to break the match into mini-games of five and to build an early cushion so we'd have something to lean on if things got tense. That mindset kept us composed and shifted the momentum to our side. By sticking to those small goals, we were able to turn the match around and win the next three sets."
Junior setter Maia Raleigh on starting district 1-0...
"It means a lot to us to open district with a rivalry win. Coming off last year's losses, then coming here and beating them on their court, showed the grit this team has. We always rely on our chemistry to pull us through tough stretches, and tonight proved the kind of team we can be this season."
NEXT UP
The Friars travel to Plano on Tuesday, Sept. 30, to face reigning three-time TAPPS state champion Prestonwood Christian Academy. First serve is set for 6:00 p.m. at the PCA Athletic Complex.
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