Lady Leps Shine in Volleyball Home Opener

La Grange’s home volleyball opener was worth the wait.

The Lady Leps played their first 18 matches of the season on the road.

Tuesday that changed as the La Grange girls, in front of a huge home crowd, swept East Bernard in three sets, including rallying from a 9-22 deficit to take the third set 2624.

Included in the festivities of the night was a post-match celebration of Carley Ulrich’s 1,000 career kill.

“I couldn’t have written a home opener like this,” said new La Grange head coach Ryan O’Neal.

That stunning come-frombehind rally in the third set was one of the biggest in years for La Grange.

“Leopards are hard to kill,” O’Neal said. “We like to make things interesting. When I called that last timeout I was just trying to find some confidence .. to be honest it was to find confidence for a fourth set.”

But that was a fourth set that the Lady Leps didn’t need as Ulrich, Kylie Trlicek and Brion Williams took over at the net.

Tuesday’s victory improves the Lady Leps’ record to 12-7 this season, matching the win mark from all of last year, when the Lady Leps went 12-28. That was a relatively youthful Lady Leps team – but they have really grown up.

“These girls have surprised me over and over this season,” O’Neal said.

“We’re taking it one game at a time, but the enthusiasm is high, the energy is high and now the expectations are starting to come up.”

Ulrich led the team in kills with 12 Tuesday. Trlicek had 10. Trlicek led in assists with 15 and Clara Bundick had 12.

Ashtyn Smith led in digs with 14 and Ulrich had 11.

Haedyn Cooper and Trlicek each had a team-high five aces.

After the match Ulrich reflected on her milestone kill mark.

“I’m really happy about it,” Ulrich said. “It was a big goal to hit. When Maddi Fritz hit her 1,000th my freshman year I always looked up to that. It’s a big accomplishment.”

Now the Lady Leps turn their attention to the Rice Consolidated Tournament, which they will be playing in this weekend.