Photos by Ray Hamill/HumboldtSports.com

The defending Big 5 champs got the new league campaign off to a winning start on Thursday night.

The Del Norte Warriors traveled to Arcata and came away with an impressive three-sets win by a score of 25-19, 25-20, 25-14.

Reigning league MVP McKenna Curtis led the way with 13 kills and also had three aces, while teammate Bliss Blackburn had eight kills.

The win lifts the Warriors to 8-1 overall.

Lili Nunez also impressed in the win and dished out 26 assists to go with four kills, while Reece White had a team-high seven digs and three blocks.

Khloe Smith added six digs, Breann Winingham had four kills and Lauren Stutes had two blocks.

The Tigers battled in each set but just couldn’t get past a dynamic and experienced Del Norte team that has nine players back from last year’s championship team.

Quincy Collins led the Tigers with seven kills, while teammate Audrey Dart finished with six kills.

Nora Talty also had a good night with 18 assists, while Nora Brumbaugh added four aces.

The Eureka Loggers, meanwhile, also got their league campaign off to a successful start with a straight sets win over McKinleyville at the new Jay Willard Gymnasium.

The Eureka girls won 25-9, 25-9, 25-22.

Senior Isis Poteet finished with six kills, three aces and a block in the win, while teammate Tiarah Maualuga had five kills.

The home crowd made its presence felt, most notably in a hard-fought third set.

“We had another great crowd who really brought the energy,” Eureka head coach Stephanie Napoleon said. “Especially in the third set when we were down and they really picked us up to come back from behind and get the win.”

Alena Battle and Sydney Waterman each added three kills in the win, while influential senior Anisha Mae Rechelluul dished out a team-high 15 assists to go with six aces.

Junior Baylie Battle also had a good night serving and finished with three aces.