Fontainebleau sweeps St. Scholastica

Fontainebleau senior outside hitter Lindsey Barron powered down a career high 29 kills Tuesday to help propel the Lady Bulldogs past the St. Scholastica Academy Doves, 25-20, 30-28, 25-12, in a district match played at SSA.

FHS (21-2) remained unblemished in district play at 7-0, entering yesterday’s match against Hammond. SSA (9-4) stood at 5-2 in district in third place, going into its match with second place Mandeville yesterday.

Barron also made her presence felt on defense pulling down a match high 17 digs for the Lady Bulldogs.

“Recently my knee has been acting up a little bit so my younger teammates have stepped it up, which helped me get some rest in other matches. I felt great during the match. Our serve-receive passes were really good. We didn’t take SSA lightly,” Barron said.

Barron said the team is meshing extremely well. “Our setters have stepped up, and are doing a fantastic job. They are at the top of their game.”

FHS third-year coach Danny Tullis praised Barron’s play.

“Lindsey stayed strong, and had a tremendous match. Getting 29 kills in a five game match says something, but she did it in three games. I’m very proud of her. I don’t think I have ever had a player who works any harder than her. Her success is deserved based on her hard work,” Tullis said.

Barron made the most of her kill opportunities off quality sets from Michelle Cabeceiras and McCrea Barney, who combined for 44 assists. Cabeceiras finished with 25 assists, while Barney totaled 19.

Cabeceiras said she loves setting Barron.

“Even if it’s a bad set, Lindsey makes me look good. It’s great having her out there. We really count on her,” Cabeceiras said.

Cabeceiras said she and her teammates knew it would be a tough match against a good SSA team.

“SSA won district last year so they are always a big threat to us. They pass really well, and are a solid defensive team. Everybody did their fair share to get the victory,” Cabeceiras added.

Barron established her dominance early in the match, spanking 11 kills in game one. Senior Amanda Schneck delivered three consecutive points to open the match, two coming on Barron kills. With FHS leading 15-10, Cabeceiras served three straight points, including an ace. FHS went on to take game one, 25-20.

Game two proved to be a sensational battle with neither club willing to give up. The game was tied 10 different times with the last stalemate coming at 28-28. SSA used some strong serving to take a 14-11 lead. Fontainebleau closed the gap, and took the lead with Caitlyn Auxilien running off four straight points, which included two consecutive kills by Taylor Anderson, who finished the match with nine kills. Jessica Guttierrez polished off the other two kills during the Lady Dawgs’ four-point run.

SSA’s Shelby Fritscher put down a kill to tie the game at 15-15. The Doves’ Meghan Clark strung together four straight points before Anderson knocked down a kill to regain serve for FHS. Anderson served an ace to cut the margin to 19-17. Later, a Barron kill retied the game at 24-24. Neither team could grab a clear advantage as the game was tied three more times with the final tie at 28-all. FHS’ Schneck buried a kill followed by an authoritative shot by Barron to close out game two, 30-28.

Coach Tullis said after being down most of game two by four or five points his team was able to fight back.

“The players believed in themselves, and were able to put a little run together to chip away at the lead. It’s always a fight when you play SSA. They play phenomenal defense. They are a well-disciplined team, and well coached,” Tullis added.

SSA coach Danny Davis said his team got a little tentative in game two. “That’s going to happen with a young team. Overall, I was very pleased with the way the kids played. We need to be a scrappy team because we don’t have the big blockers or hitters we have had in the past. We’re knocking on the door, hoping we are going to be there in the end,” Davis said.

“Fontainebleau is a great team. Danny (Tullis) got his team ready to roll. They are doing a fantastic job.”

In game three, SSA came out strong to take a 3-0 advantage. FHS had a serving error and Audrey Gitz served two straight for the lead. However, the quick start was nullified, when the Doves were called for being out of rotation. The two service points were removed, putting the game at 1-1.

After each team scored a point, Cabeceiras took charge reeling off nine consecutive points to give the Lady Bulldogs an 11-2 lead. Barron downed five kills during the FHS run. Leading 18-8, Guttierrez served two points with Sarah Ulm getting a block, and Barron a kill for the 12-point lead.

Holding a 23-12 lead, FHS’ Auxilien shut the door, serving the final two points of the match. SSA committed a net violation and an unforced error to close out game three, 25-12.

SSA’s Camille Walther, who topped the Doves with 12 kills, contributed five kills in game three, but it wasn’t enough to keep them in the game. Kristi Harrison notched 11 kills, while Christina Wurm added nine for the Doves.

SSA senior libero Sam Delahoussaye did her best diving all over the court in an effort to dig numerous kill attempts by FHS.

Delahoussaye topped the Doves with 16 digs.

Delahoussaye said she felt both teams played really well. “It wasn’t a bad match for us. We had a chance in the second game, but we just couldn’t put it away. We fought hard,” Delahoussaye said.

“It was really hard to come back after that tough loss in game two.”

Delahoussaye, a VIA team member with FHS’ Barron, said it was tough trying to dig balls from her. “I love Lindsey. She’s just good,” said the Doves’ senior libero.

Gitz and Walther added eight digs each for SSA. Clark was credited with 30 assists in the match.

SSA junior Monique Giarrusso celebrated her 17th birthday. Following the match, while she was sitting in the stands, in her teammates strolled over to sing Happy Birthday to her.