MICHAEL KIRAL / L’Observateur / September 30, 2000

RESERVE – Down 8-2 in the first game, Reserve Christian overcame early spotty play to defeat East St. John, 15-13, 15-10, Tuesday afternoon atthe Eagles Nest.

It was the second straight year that Reserve Christian has defeated the Lady Cats. The Lady Eagles improved to 5-5 on the season while East St.John fell to 6-6.

Reserve Christian led 2-0 in the first game before East St. John went onan 8-0 run. A kill by outside hitter Jennie DeBowes tied the game at 2. Aserve later, a dink by setter Lindsey Caronna and two Reserve Christian errors gave the Lady Cats a 5-2 lead. DeBowes followed with an ace andReserve Christian made two errors to increase the margin to 8-2.

Following a Reserve Christian timeout, the Lady Eagles broke the serve and pulled to within 8-6 on a downball by Summer Vicknair and three Lady Cat errors. Aces by Angie Tucker and Amber Schlesinger helped the LadyEagles pull even at 9.

DeBowes lobbed a shot in and followed with her second ace to regain the lead for East St. John. Danielle Washington followed with a kill to make it12-9.

Reserve Christian retied it with an ace by Vicknair and block by Schlesinger. An ace two serves later by Schlesinger gave the Lady Eaglesthe lead but East St. John came right back to tie it on a Reserve Christianerror with Sandy Shields serving.

Two service breaks later, Renee Delaneuville delivered a kill to put the Lady Eagles ahead. Reserve Christian got the game winner on an error bythe Lady Cats.

East St. John went ahead 2-0 in the second game behind aces by DeBowesand Caronna. Reserve Christian rallied to take a 4-2 lead on a kill bySchlesinger.

East St. John regained the lead two serves later. Qiana Ferdinand dinked ashot over to bring the Lady Cats to within one, then tied the score with a block. Caronna dinked a shot over on the next rally with Ferdinandfinishing it with a block to make it 5-4.

The lead continued to seesaw as Dunia Medina served consecutive aces and Vicknair delivered a kill to give Reserve Christian a 7-5 advantage.

DeBowes came right back with an ace as the Lady Cats tied the game at 7.

Reserve Christian used four East St. John errors and an ace by Schlesingerto pull out to a 12-7 lead. After an ace by Nikki Wilking made it 13-8, EastSt. John closed to within three on two Reserve Christian errors. A kill twoserves later by Schlesinger made it 14-10. Reserve Christian got thematch winner on its next serve on an ace by Vicknair.

Schlesinger led Reserve Christian with eight kills, six coming on attacks, and three aces. She was also the team’s top defender. Delaneuville addedfive kills for the Lady Eagles.

“The way it started, we were spotty,” Reserve Christian coach Mike Marix said. “We just turned it around. Our unity kicked in and that’s what saw usthrough. We made some great plays with diving saves and diving dinks andI think that’s what takes a team to the next level.”Danielle Washington led East St. John with three kills. DeBowes had ateam-high three aces.

“They out-hustled us today,” East St. John coach Sandi Stein said. “Wecame here expecting to win. But once we got on the court, we lost controland control is what it’s all about.”East St. John is playing in the Alario Center Tournament today beforetraveling to Ponchatoula Tuesday. Reserve Christian hosts RiversideTuesday.

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