MICHAEL KIRAL / L’Observateur / September 8, 1999

LUTCHER – Ascension Catholic and Lutcher opened their seasons Tuesday afternoon with a game that looked like one that would be played in November at the state tournament.

Both teams saw leads come and go before Ascension Catholic rallied in the third game for a 15-4, 13-15, 16-14 victory in the Lutcher gym.

Lutcher had rallied from a 4-0 deficit in the final game to take an 8-4 lead as Breeze Vicknair delivered a kill off a block. The Lady Bulldogsappeared to increase their lead but Keondra Robertson’s tip attempt was ruled out.

The game’s momentum changed at that point as Ascension Catholic pulled to within 8-7 behind three unforced errors by Lutcher. After Lutcher tooka two-point lead on an error, Ascension Catholic went ahead, 10-9, on consecutive blocks by Shelly Cayette.

Lutcher came right back with Lindsay E. Louque serving as Holly Hymelkilled a free ball at the net and Tiffany Griffin delivered a spike that was deflected out. An unforced error increased Lutcher’s lead to 13-10.Ascension Catholic broke the Lady Bulldogs’ serve and pulled to within 13- 12 behind a block by Cayette. Lutcher then moved to match point asMelanie Morris’ shot went into the net.

But Ascension Catholic again pulled to within a point behind a dink by Cayette. The Bulldogs then broke two serves by Lutcher and tied the matchon blocks by Lindsay Francis and Natalie Noel. Ascension Catholic then gotthe match winner on consecutive wide returns by Lutcher.

“It was a great match,” Lutcher coach Denise Riley said. “I was excitedabout the way we played. We played hard.”Ascension Catholic had jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the final game with Brittany Bolotte serving on four errors by Lutcher. Lutcher then ralliedwith an ace by Toni Riley and a dink and a block by Robertson. The LadyBulldogs then went out to a 7-4 advantage on a block by Hymel and three Ascension Catholic errors.

Ascension Catholic took a 6-0 lead to open the match behind a block and a dink by Cayette. Robertson delivered a downball to help the Lady Bulldogspull to within 6-3 before Ascension Catholic used two Lutcher errors to make it a five-point game. After an ace by Griffin, Ascension Catholicwent on a 7-0 run to end the game. A kill off a block by Noel opened therun with Cayette and Denise Quezaire adding kills.

Lutcher came right back in the second game, jumping out to a 4-0 lead on two kills and a dink by Robertson and an ace by Griffin.

Five errors by Ascension Catholic built the lead to 9-2. After a cross-court kill by Noel, a dink by Riley made it 11-3.

A cross-court spike by Cayette opened a 10-0 run by Ascension Catholic.

Bolotte followed with an ace and Cayette added a block to make it 11-6. Aserve later, after three errors by Lutcher, Sarah Dupepe gave the Bulldogs a 12-11 lead with an ace. A lift against Lutcher made it 13-11.Lutcher got the serve back behind a kill by Riley. Riley tied the match withan ace and Robertson spiked a free ball at the net for the game-winner.

Lutcher won the district title in 1998 and advanced to the first round of the state tournament last season. The Lady Bulldogs return eight seniors,including three starters, from that squad.

“‘All of them have been playing together since they were freshmen,” Riley said. “They play well together.”

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