DALLAS — For the first time since 2023, the Bishop Lynch volleyball team defeated John Paul II in district play, sweeping the Cardinals 3-0 Thursday night in the Competition Gym. The victory moved the Friars to 19-7 overall and 1-0 in district play, marking the second consecutive season Bishop Lynch has opened its district schedule with a victory.
Bishop Lynch 3, John Paul II 0 (25-23, 25-18, 25-14)
The evening featured several memorable moments both on and off the court. Before the match, Bishop Lynch honored senior captains Maia Raleigh and Kylie Love with plaques commemorating career milestones reached earlier this season. Raleigh was recognized for surpassing both 1,500 and 2,000 career assists, while Love was honored for reaching 500 career kills.
The milestones continued during the match. On her first kill of the night in the opening set, senior Camila Figueroa reached 500 career kills of her own. She was presented with her commemorative plaque between the first and second sets.
The Friars controlled the match from start to finish, never trailing while winning all three sets wire to wire. Fast starts played a major role in the victory, as Bishop Lynch established leads of at least six points in every set, including advantages of 11-5 in the first, 19-10 in the second, and 11-1 in the third.
HOW IT HAPPENED
SET 1 | The opening set belonged to Figueroa, who celebrated her 500th career kill while leading all Friars with six kills in the frame. Bishop Lynch also made an impact from the service line, recording four aces, with Kylie Love and Camille Mitchell contributing two apiece. The Friars finished the set with 19 digs as a team, led by Figueroa's five, to take the opener 25-23.
SET 2 | Charlie Wells made her presence felt at the net in the second set, leading the Friars with four kills and two blocks. Love, Emory Mooney and Figueroa each added two kills, while Bishop Lynch posted a match-best .333 hitting percentage as a team. The offensive efficiency helped the Friars take the second set 25-18 and move within one set of the sweep.
SET 3 | Love and Raleigh took over offensively in the final set. Love recorded seven kills on a .545 hitting percentage, while Raleigh added six assists and a match-high four aces. Bay Corrigan led the defensive effort with five digs, accounting for half of the team's 10 digs in the set, while Wells added two more blocks. The Friars closed out the Cardinals 25-14 to complete the 3-0 sweep.
STAT LEADERS
» Kills: Kylie Love, 13
» Assists: Maia Raleigh, 22
» Digs: Bay Corrigan, 10
» Hitting Percentage (Min. 10 Attempts): Kylie Love, .360
» Aces: Kylie Love & Maia Raleigh, 4
GAME NOTES
- The Friars improved to 37-8 all-time against John Paul II, dating back to 2007, including an 18-2 record at home.
- Bishop Lynch remains undefeated at home this season at 4-0 and has yet to drop a set in the Competition Gym.
- The victory marked the second consecutive season the Friars have opened district play with a win. Bishop Lynch defeated Ursuline 3-1 in last year's district opener.
- The Friars are now 2-0 against John Paul II this season, having defeated the Cardinals 2-0 at the Grapevine Volleyfest in August.
- Bishop Lynch recorded 10 aces, marking the sixth time this season the Friars have reached double digits in aces in a match.
- Raleigh has now recorded double-digit assists in all 26 matches she has played this season, including 20 or more assists in 18 matches.
- Love recorded double-digit kills for the 14th time this season, the most on the team.
- After recording just one double-digit dig performance in her career entering this stretch, Corrigan has now posted 10 or more digs in three consecutive matches.
NEXT UP
The Friars hit the road for the first time in district play Tuesday, Sept. 22, when they travel to face top-seeded Prestonwood Christian Academy. First serve is scheduled for 6 p.m. at the PCA Athletic Complex. The Lions enter the matchup with a 21-2 record, and Tuesday's contest will serve as their district opener.
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