DALLAS — If the opening match is any indication, the Bishop Lynch volleyball team is ready for another deep postseason run. The Friars opened the 2026 season Tuesday night with a dominant 3-0 sweep of Hillcrest in front of a spirited Friar Nation crowd in the Competition Gym, winning 25-13, 25-20, 25-12.
Hillcrest 0, Bishop Lynch 3 (25-13, 25-20, 25-12)
After opening last season with a 3-1 victory over Hillcrest, the Friars were even more dominant in Tuesday's rematch. Bishop Lynch's returning leaders picked up where they left off, while several newcomers made an immediate impact in their first varsity action.
Senior setter Maia Raleigh, the TAPPS District II Setter of the Year in 2025, recorded her first double-double of the season with 22 assists and 12 digs. Raleigh, who led the Friars with 13 double-doubles last season, also added two aces in her final season opener in the Black & White.
Kylie Love, who led Bishop Lynch in kills last season, also started the year strong. The senior outside hitter recorded a team-high 10 kills to go along with six digs.
One of the night's biggest highlights came from junior middle blocker Kate Heffernan, who made her varsity debut in impressive fashion. Heffernan recorded eight kills while hitting .889, along with two blocks and six digs. Freshman setter Vivian Brown also made her debut in the Black & White, contributing eight assists and two digs.
As a team, the Friars hit .278 compared to Hillcrest's .078 and recorded 45 kills to the Panthers' 18.
HOW IT HAPPENED
SET 1 | Bishop Lynch came out firing in the opening set, hitting .410 while taking a 25-13 victory. Love and Emory Mooney each recorded five kills, while Raleigh distributed the offense with nine assists in the opening frame.
SET 2 | Hillcrest provided its toughest challenge of the night in the second set, but the Friars continued to control the match. Camila Figueroa led Bishop Lynch with four kills in the set and finished the night with seven. Charlie Wells and Love each added two kills, while freshman Megan O'Grady recorded the first kill of her career.
SET 3 | The Friars closed out the sweep with another strong offensive performance, hitting their way to a 25-12 victory. Heffernan continued her impressive debut with five kills and a block in the final set, while Love added three kills. Mooney, Raleigh, and Lila Scott each contributed two kills as Bishop Lynch finished off the Panthers.
STAT LEADERS
» Kills: Kylie Love, 10
» Assists: Maia Raleigh, 22
» Digs: Maia Raleigh, 12
» Blocks: Kate Heffernan, 2
» Hitting Percentage: Kate Heffernan, .889
» Aces: Kylie Love & Maia Raleigh: 2
NEXT UP
The Friars head to their first tournament of the season, Thursday through Saturday, at the Grapevine Volleyfest. Bishop Lynch opens pool play Thursday with matches against Coppell at 3 p.m. and Grapevine at 5 p.m., with both matches taking place at Grapevine Fieldhouse USA.
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