MICHAEL KIRAL / L’Observateur / November 15, 1999

KENNER – In a match where scoring streaks were scarce, Episcopal of Baton Rouge was able to put enough together to win a tough 15-8, 15-10 victory over Riverside in the Division IV bi-district volleyball playoffs Wednesday afternoon at the Pontchartarin Center.

Episcopal advanced to play St. Thomas Aquinas in the quarterfinals Friday.Riverside concluded its season, one that saw it win the District 6-IV title with a 4-0 record, at 13-16.

Episcopal opened up a 2-0 lead in the first game on kills by Rebecca Schutte and Meghan O’Leary. Riverside rallied, taking a 3-2 lead on a blockby Jennifer Smith. Episcopal tied the score at 3 on an ace by Schutte andwent ahead to stay, 6-4, on a kill by Schutte. After a kill by Smith,Episcopal took an 8-5 lead on a tip by Lesley Newell.

A dink by Cassie St. Amant brought the Lady Rebels to within two but theKnights came right back with a kill by O’Leary. A block by Schutte and anet violation by the Lady Rebels increased the lead to 12-6.

Smith brought Riverside to within five with an ace but Ashley Atiyeh answered with one of her own to make it 14-8. After a Riverside timeout,the Knights got the game winner as Heidi Richard’s spike attempt went wide.

Episcopal pulled away to a 6-0 lead to open the second game. Katie Platthad consecutive kills to make it 3-0. Two serves later, a tip by CaitlinScott and two shots into the net by the Lady Rebels increased the lead to six.

Riverside battled back, pulling to within 6-2 behind a kill by Richard and a Knight error. Episcopal built its back to 8-3 on a kill to the back line byMonica Price but Jennifer Guidry answered with a kill of a free ball and Richard followed with an ace to mke it 8-5.

The Lady Rebels continued to chip into the lead, tying the game at 8 on a block by Amie Graugnard and two Episcopal errors. Smith followed with adink, giving the Lady Rebels their first lead at 9-8.

O’Leary answered for the Knights with a kill to tie the game at 9. A servelater, Atiyeh delivered a kill and Schutte had a dink bounced off the net and fall in, giving the Knights a 11-9 lead. Consecutive aces by LyndsiStockinger increased that lead to 13-10.

After a service break, Price served another ace to bring the Knights to match point. Graugnard broke the serve with a kill but O’Leary got the ballright back for the Knights with a kill of her own. O’Leary then got thematch winner with a dink.

Smith led the Lady Rebels with eight kills, six blocks and a game-high 10 digs and also had an ace. Richard had another ace while Cassie St. Amantled the squad with seven assists.

O’Leary, who suffered a foot injury during warmups, shook it off to lead the Knights with nine kills and six blocks.

Price had a game-high 14 assists and added eight digs. Stockinger had ateam-high two aces.

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