Liberty-Eylau has made dramatic improvement in the first two weeks of the volleyball season.
The Lady Leopards extended their win streak to seven in a row and survived a tight match against Queen City, 25-17, 17-25, 26-24, 26-24, Tuesday at the Rader Dome.
L-E (7-1) took the early advantage in every set but the second, having to rally from late deficits in the third and fourth.
"Going into this match, our whole concept was to minimize our errors, as a team," Liberty-Eylau coach LaTasha Harris said. "From the last match we played to this one, that's what we did. The rallied were great, the diving (for balls) was great, and they came together as a team. As a coach, you can't ask for anything more; all you ask for is for them to take care of our side, and they're improving every day."
Down 16-10 in the third set, with the match tied, the Lady Bulldogs (3-4) rallied for eight straight points to go up 18-16. The Leopards responded with a 4-point run, and after Queen City knotted the score at 24-all, Liberty-Eylau scored the next two points.
In the fourth set, the score was tied at 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 17, 21, 22, 23 and 24, and again the Leopards notched consecutive points to end the match. The largest leads in the final set were 4-0 for L-E and 12-10 for Queen City.
The host team came out hot in the first set, taking advantages of 7-2 and 14-6 before double-digits at 19-9. With the Leopards ahead 23-11, the Bulldogs rattled off five in a row. Liberty-Eylau ended the set by taking 3 of the next 4 points.
"I am very proud of my girls; they have improved tremendously from last week," Queen City coach Paige Grey said. "Every thing we worked on in practice this week, they fixed. We still have a lot to work on, but I couldn't have asked for more from them tonight."
In the second set the teams almost mirrored the first. It was the visitors taking leads of 7-2, 14-7, but the Leopards cut their deficit to two (17-15).
Another 5-point rally by QC helped the Bulldogs even the match at a set apiece.
Amoiya Gentry smacked 10 kills for the Leopards. Kaliyah Thompson had eight kills, seven digs and 12 service points, Derrica Henderson contributed 11 blocks, five kills and eight digs, and Daycoria Meadows had 10 blocks and six kills. Kyana Norman and Keeley Gentry added six blocks apiece, Kelly Cigainero served 11 points, and Taylor Crabtree, Mariah Coleman and Cigainero had 10 digs apiece.
Jacie Lance swatted 11 kills and had 13 digs for Queen City, Colleen Kilgore added 10 digs, Madison Jones and Macey Belote had three blocks each, and Peyton Beckham and Jayley Stringer had 17 and 14 assists, respectively.
Liberty-Eylau won the junior varsity match, 16-25, 25-12, 25-20. Kayla Norris served 13 winners, and Samiya White added 10 for L-E. Neri Larry and Lexee Whatley served nine each for the Bulldogs.