The Bearcat volleyball team controlled most of the first set but ultimately had to rally to take the set but Lavaca won the next three to take the benefit match at Wendell Hardgrave-Davis Floyd Gymnasium, 3-1.
Seniors Kaylee Ray, Cameron Parish and Presley Walker (shown) had kills for the first three points and first lead of the day.
From there the Bearcats would eventually open an 11-6 lead on an ace by Parish.
It was 14-9 after a Ray kill and 15-10 after a kill by Vanessa O’Neal but Lavaca would chip away and draw even at 18 and would threatened to take the set pulling ahead 22-20.
An ace by Anna Ferguson tied it at 22 and it was also tied at 23 on a Lavaca violation.
With the Bearcats up 24-23 Lavaca took a time out but a second straight ace by Vanessa O’Neal completed the set win.
Set 2 started with an Emma Fox kill, a Vanessa O’Neal ace and a Presley Walker kill and the Bearcats were up 5-2 when things went south as Lavaca ran off eight straight points.
Lavaca led by at least four most of the rest of the set until a kill by Fox, a point by Vanessa O’Neal and an ace by Ray cut it to 24-22 but Lavaca scored the next point to tie the match at one set each.
Lavaca took control of the third set with a 10 point run after a Vanessa O’Neal ace started it and though Walker did manage a couple of kills Bearcat highlights were few and far between in a 25-7 set loss.
Fox had a three kills and a block early in the fourth and with a Ray ace it was tied at 5-5 before three straight Arrow points and Lavaca led the rest of the way.
Down 23-14 the Bearcats would rally to within 23-19 with Walker serving an ace, Vanessa O’Neal with a block and a kill by Parish.
Lavaca took a time out then closed the match out with the last two points.
The Bearcats will open the 2025 season on Monday against Mena when the 7th grade, junior high B team, junior high A team and varsity Bearcats will take the floor.
SCORING DROUGHTS COSTS BEARCATS IN BENEFIT MATCH
