The Benton Lady Tigers advanced to the second round of the Division I playoffs with a three sets to none victory over the Central-Baton Rouge Lady Bears Thursday night at Benton.
District 1-I champion Benton (27-4), will host No. 11 Ponchatoula (24-12) in the second round Saturday at 5:30 p.m. The Green Wave defeated No. 22 East Ascension 3-1 in the first round.
Benton defeated Ponchatoula 25-18, 25-15 in the Ruston tournament on Sept. 19.
Ponchatoula is in District 7-I that includes No. 2 seed Mandeville and No. 10 Slidell.
While it’s good to have some knowledge of your opponent, Benton Head Coach Barbara Curry said the previous match has no bearing on Saturday’s.
“That doesn’t matter now,” she said.
Benton is in the second round for the second straight year.
“I’m super proud of the girls tonight,” Curry said. “They’ve come together with a season goal and have worked together to fulfill that goal. Super proud of our seniors, who have taken the reins and have led the way. And just a really good group of players. Young ladies on the court and off the court.
“But we’re able to move the ball around, and I think that makes a big difference. Our setters have done really well — Ari Barnes — and we just have a number of people that can hit the ball, front row, back row. That has really helped us.”
Benton got off to a bit of a slow start and trailed 8-4 in the first set. But the Lady Tigers scored eight of the next nine points to go up 12-9.
Benton led 16-12 before Central rallied to tie it at 16. The set remained close.
On top 20-19, Benton took the next three points.
Central cut the lead to 23-20. Benton won the next point.
The Lady Bears saved three set points. The Lady Tigers then took the set 25-23 on a service error.
“There are a lot of people there and a lot going on around us,” Curry said. “I’m sure there were some jitters there, but we did make a couple adjustments. And as soon as we did that, then
things seemed to flow a little bit better.”
Benton dominated the second set. The Lady Tigers jumped out to a 13-2 lead.
Central got as close as 20-13. Benton then won five straight points to go up two sets.
The Lady Tigers got off to another good start in the third set and led 7-2.
Central rallied but Benton stayed ahead. The Lady Tigers won five straight points to go up 24-16.
The Lady Bears saved four match points. The Lady Tigers closed the set and match 25-20 on a two-handed drop shot by Andrea Wade that Central was unable to return.