PINEVILLE, La. – After having the start of their season pushed back, the Louisiana College volleyball team was finally able to start its 2021 season on Thursday night, but the Wildcats dropped a tight 3-1 (23-25, 25-23, 21-25, 22-25) decision to the Dillard Bleu Devils at the Pineville High School Field House in LC's NAIA opener.
 
The Wildcats jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first set following a kill from Aniah Adams. But the Wildcats would be unable to keep the momentum going as the two teams had a back-and-forth affair that the Bleu Devils eventually closed out with a late rally for the 25-23 decision.
 
Dillard started the second set quickly, but it was the Wildcats that found the big rally as another kill by Aniah Adams started a seven-point run capped by an ace by Leah Stamps that gave LC a 12-6 lead. The Bleu Devils rallied to take a 16-15 lead before a kill by Kiera Jones a run of five points out of six rallies by the Wildcats to open a 20-17 lead. With the set tied at 23-23, Sadi Jones got the Wildcats on set point with a kill, and then a miscue by the Bleu Devils secured the 25-23 win for the Wildcats to level the match at 1-1.
 
Katie Spell opened the third set with an ace to start things off well for LC. However, the deciding run would come about midway through as Dillard won five out of six points to turn a 14-13 Dillard lead into a 19-14 Bleu Devil advantage, which LC could not overcome as Dillard took the set 25-21.
 
With their backs against the wall in the fourth set, the Wildcats came out fast again as kills by Abby Revell, Kierra Jones, Aniah Adams, & Daja Bell helped LC get out to a 5-3 lead. With the match tied at 20-20, however, it was Dillard that got the needed run as the Bleu Devils got four-straight points to get onto match point. The Wildcats battled to force a third match point, but they couldn't keep the run going as Dillard ended the match with a 25-22 win in the fourth and final set.
 
Aniah Adams led the LC offense with 16 kills and an assist. Adams also had a solo block and a pair of digs in the match. Abby Revell tallied eight kills. Paris Babino tallied 34 assists. Defensively, Kierra Jones had three solo blocks and one assisted block.
 
The Wildcats (0-1) look to rebound with the start of Red River Athletic Conference play on Saturday when the Xavier comes to Pineville for both teams' official debut in the RRAC. Opening serve against the Gold Nuggets (0-4) is set for 1:00 P.M. at the Pineville High School Field House.