A volleyball match between rivals pushed both teams to the limit. See who won 3-2

St. Joseph’s hosts St. Thomas More in a nondistrict matchup, Tuesday, September 19, 2023, at St.

Joseph’s Academy in Baton Rouge, La. Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save The St. Michael looked like it was finished late in Thursday night's volleyball match at St.



Joseph's Academy. But the Warriors found a way to win. SMHS survived four match points in the fourth set before completing their comeback win by taking the fifth set, notching a 3-2 victory.

The match that had all of the twists and turns that could be expected to happen as two of Baton Rouge's top programs battled it out. In the end, St. Michael prevailed 25-20, 18-25, 16-25, 28-26 and 15-11.

For St. Michael (6-2), a Division III quarterfinalist last season, the win extends their winning streak to six matches. St.

Joseph's (7-5) saw its five-match win streak end. . "That match had everything," St.

Michael coach Rob Smith said. "It had some really long rallies, great effort on both sides, great play above the net and it went five sets. "We got killed in set three but we got out in front in set five and were able to finish it.

" The Warriors were on the ropes in the fourth set but came through to win 28-26. In the fifth set, St. Michael took a 10-3 lead before St.

Joseph's came back. The Redstickers got as close as three points at 14-11, but Bella Bravata's kill ended the match touching off a celebration for the Warriors. Bravata finished with 10 kills, seven digs and two blocks.

She got help from Skylar Turner with 11 kills. St. Joseph's was led by Gracie Mann's match-high 23 kills.

Kaylie McKinney added eight kills and six blocks, and Mackenzie Chuilli added 14 digs and five aces. Caroline Burkhalter directed the Redstickers offense and finished with 43 assists. "It was a great atmosphere.

Both schools brought a lot of spirit here," SJA coach Sivi Miller said. "It's great to see two schools from Baton Rouge play a match like this. It was a great match to watch.

I just wish we could have come out with a win." Up 2-1 in sets, St. Joseph's led by as many as seven points in the early going of the fourth set.

St. Michael pulled even at 17-17 on Bella LeBlanc's spike. St.

Joseph's had two chances to close out the match after it came back to take a 24-22 lead. Turner's kill erased one of the tries and a Redstickers' hitting error evened the match. SJA had two more chances at 25-24 and 26-25.

Turner had a tip kill on the first and Aliza Gary's kill through a St. Joseph's block took care of the second. St.

Michael's won the final two points of the set on Elizabeth Fitch's ace and a Redstickers' hitting error. Bravata came through with three kills in the fifth set. "The energy was crazy and it was everywhere.

It really carried over to us and helped us win," Bravata said. "We just persevered and kept pushing and fighting and encouraging each other.".