Mandeville survived a good start by Slidell and swept the Lady Tigers, 25-12, 25-13, 25-8, in a district match held at SHS Tuesday.

“Slidell came out with a lot of energy in the first two games. It took us a few points to match that energy,” Mandeville coach Christy Sanantonio said.

SHS opened the match by getting out to a 3-0 lead in the first game, highlighted by two kills from Hannah Gambrell, who finished with six.

SHS'€™ Kaitlyn Crippin (2) goes for a kill as MHS'€™ Kelsey Sparks (22) and Summer Burglass (7) go up for a block in a district match held Tuesday. Pictured for MHS on defense is Elizabeth Rinaudo (23). Shown for Slidell are Hannah Gambrell (25) and Allison Dolan (12). (Staff Photo by Chris Kinkaid)

Mandeville (15-7, 8-1) came back and tied the game at 3-3 on a long rally, which ended with Slidell hitting the ball out of bounds and ended on a kill by Kelsey Sparks.

The Lady Tigers (13-10, 5-4) retook the lead, 4-3, but that was the final time in the game SHS had an advantage as Mandeville tallied the next two points, getting its first advantage, 5-4.

Slidell tied the game at 5-5, but the Lady Skippers posted the next two with freshman Katie Lindelow putting down one of her six kills to make it 7-5.

With Mandeville leading, 8-7, a Slidell serve that hit the net made it 9-7 and started a 10-0 run for the Lady Skippers.

After SHS tallied the next two points to trim the deficit to 18-9, Melanie Gaines put down a kill and it was 19-9. From there, the Lady Skippers cruised to the 25-12 win.

In the second game, Slidell came out strong once again and held a 5-2 advantage.

Mandeville tallied the next two points, trimming it to 5-4, but a dink shot by Courtney Courtney put SHS up 6-4.

MHS then went on a 3-0 run to take the lead, 7-6. The spurt began with a pair of kills from Alexis Wilson. Slidell tied the game at 7-7 on a kill by Kaitlyn Crippin, who tallied seven.

After that, Mandeville retook the lead, 8-7, and never looked back. The Lady Skippers had a pair of three-point leads, 10-7 and 11-8, but Slidell got no closer as MHS won 25-13.

In the third game, Mandeville jumped out to a 3-0 advantage and then the teams exchanged points to make it 4-1.

The Lady Tigers posted the next two points, the last one on a kill by Gambrell. MHS then went on a 5-0 run and held a comfortable 9-3 lead.

Slidell scored the next two points, cutting it to 9-5. The Lady Skippers came back with four in a row to lead 13-5. Slidell stayed in the match with three consecutive points. Mandeville was able to get the serve back, which started a 12-0 run to end the match, with Lindelow serving the final 11 points.

Lindelow had seven digs and five aces. Elizabeth Rinaudo dished out 17 assists to go with six kills, while Sparks blocked five shots.

Nichole Freeman, who was one of four Mandeville players with six kills, said it was a team win.

“I think we executed very well. We played as a team and as a unit. When we come together like that as a family, it works,” Freeman said.

For the Lady Tigers, Courtney passed for eight assists and Crippin handed out five assists.

Slidell coach Nancy Plaisance said she was not happy with her team’s performance.

“Hands down, Mandeville’s a good team, there’s not doubt. But I was really disappointed in the way our girls didn’t step it up to make it a match. It was embarrassing. We just couldn’t pass the ball,” Plaisance said. “When we ran offense, the few times we did, they’re off balance and they have a little trouble getting the ball back to us. They’re not pounding it at us. Other than that, it’s like hitting practice for them.”