Liberty-Eylau's volleyball squad is still locked in.
The Lady Leopards defeated Mount Pleasant in four sets Tuesday night at the Rader Dome, 25-15, 25-18, 20-25, 25-23.
"I'm proud of the way they came out and played," L-E head coach Kaylee Treas-Dalby said. "We have to learn when we have a team down, we have to put them away quick.
"We can't just keep playing with them and giving them that hope."
The Leopards started the match off on fire.
In the first set, Daycoria Meadows took over at the service line with L-E leading 3-3, and she slapped six straight points to give L-E the early edge, 9-3. The Leopards breezed to a 10-point victory in the first set.
The second set began much like the first. After being tied 11-all midway through the second set, Tamara Morris and Meadows took over for the Leopards. Morris and Meadows combined for 12 points in the second set for L-E.
"We're playing to win but we're having fun," Treas-Dalby said. "We're not just pounding them when they do something wrong. When they do something great we praise them. We're teaching them and taking our time molding the team this year.
"This is a young team. They're learning me still and I'm still learning them. We've been together for three weeks straight with a lot of heart and very little attitude."
The third set is where the L-E had the most difficulty in the match.
The Tigers held their first lead of the match in the third set, 4-3.
L-E attempted to mount a comeback when Bryana Block was on the service, but a hitting error allowed Mount Pleasant to serve and also gave them set point.
"Keeley Norris, Tamara Norris and Daycoria Meadows played really well for us tonight," Treas-Dalby said. "Two of those three are our captains. I trust them with the ball every single time.
"I couldn't ask for a better sophomore to play around the entire time than Tamara. I know they'll keep fighting and those three won't let us give up."
Tamara Norris ended the match with 14 kills and three aces for the Leopards. Keeley Norris finished with 18 kills and four blocks.
The Leopards regrouped for the fourth set.
After starting behind 3-1, the Leopards quickly regained the lead. There was a long rally before the Tigers tied the score 10-10.
The set was tied 23-all when Mariah Coleman took over on the service line for the Leopards. Coleman accounted for the last two unanswered points, giving L-E the match.
Meadows lead the Leopards with 21 kills, three blocks and three aces, while Coleman chipped in 10 service points.
"This was a big win for us," Treas-Dalby said. "I don't remember the last time Liberty-Eylau has beat Mount Pleasant. We're going to work on some stuff we did wrong but we're going to keep building from this. The only way we can go is up from here.
"We're playing hard and we're playing quick. That's the thing I told our girls, is that we have to play quick. We're a quick team and we can't play down to other team's speeds. We have to keep playing to our speed."
The Leopards are back in action on Friday, traveling to Redwater beginning at 4:30 p.m.