By GEORGE MAHL

Sports Editor

RESERVE – The East St. John Lady Cats continued their quest for a district championship with an easy 25-17, 25-9, 25-13 victory over Riverdale Tuesday afternoon.

Ashlee Cooper led the Lady Cats attack with 16 kills and five blocks.

“Everything was real crisp for us today,” said East St. John Head Coach Sandi Stein. “We have got a good rythym going.”

The Lady Cats jumped out to a quick 8-1 lead in game one. Cooper and Avingnon Williams were forces in front of the net. The first run of the first game came when the Lady Cats held a 4-3 lead. East St. John went on a 6-0 run to hold on to a 10-3 lead. Williams was a force in front of the net. She had two blocks and a kill during the run.

The lead, however, quickly evaporated and the Lady Wildcats found themselves holding just a two-point lead, 11-9.

Following a short rally by Riverdale, the Lady Cats got back to business. A kill followed by a block from Cooper gave the Lady Cats a 16-11 lead.

A return error by the Lady Rebels gave East St. John the 25-17 victory in game one.

Game two was the most dominant of the three for East St. John. The Lady Cats held a commanding 12-2 lead in the second game.

East St. John server Maira Harris had three aces for the Lady Cats during the first pert of the game. The lead swelled to 19-6 after three consecutive Lady Cat kills.

A 19-6 lead later became a 19-9 lead after two aces from Lady Rebels server Kaylin Jones

East St. John went on to score the next six points of the second game to earn a 25-9 victory.

East St. John did not let up any at the start of the final game of the match. Off of three straight kills from Cooper, the Lady Cats held an early 8-1 lead.

The Lady Cats, leading 12-8, went on a 5-0 spurt to grab a 17-8 lead. Peggy Tuco had three aces for East St. John.

Cooper put the Lady Cats one point away from victory after a kill and a block.

“This win is just another step up the ladder for us,” Cooper said. “If everybody does their job we function as a unit.”

Williams, a senior, agreed with Cooper’s comments.

“We have worked very well together and played as a team.”

Kierre Joseph had 18 digs and five kills for East St. John, while Maira Harris finished with seven aces.