File photo – The Crusaders are one of three teams tied atop the Little 5 standings halfway through the conference schedule.

It’s shaping up to an exciting finish to this year’s Little 5 in volleyball.

On Thursday night, the Ferndale Wildcats and St. Bernard’s Crusaders both won to move into a three-way tie with Hoopa at the top of the conference standings.

The Wildcats beat Northcoast Prep in three sets, 25-8, 25-11, 25-9, while the Crusaders won at South Fork in straight sets, 25-8, 25-15, 25-11.

Halfway through the conference schedule, Hoopa, St. Bernard’s and Ferndale are all 3-1.

“The girls played pretty good. They were pretty consistent just keeping their momentum up,” Ferndale head coach Jessi Grant said of Thursday’s team performance.

Several players stood out for the Cats, including the ever-dangerous Clara Albee who finished the night with six aces, four kills, three tips, three saves and 28 assists.

Izzy Ellsmore also had a good night for the home team, particularly serving, and she finished with eight aces, seven kills and three saves, while teammate Saige Machado had seven kills, three assists and a pair of saves.

Amaya Mathews also impressed and had five kills, five tips, six saves and three aces, while Yajaira Cantu-Mendez added four aces, a kill and a save.

For St. Bernard’s, meanwhile, senior Ella Hart continued to impress and was influential in the win once again.

Hart was particularly effective serving and finished with 12 aces to go with 17 assists and four kills, while teammate Nina Clayton also had four kills.

Jocelyn Sundberg, Samantha Sundberg, Alyssa Boham and Natalie McLaughlin each had three kills.

The Crusaders will take a break from conference play to compete at the Stockton Classic tournament this weekend.

Next week will be a key one for the SB girls in their pursuit of a conference championship, with games at Hoopa on Tuesday and at home against Ferndale on Thursday.

The Wildcats also won their conference game against South Fork on Tuesday by a score of 25-13, 19-25, 25-8, 25-16.

Albee contributed 34 assists in the win, as well as 11 saves, six aces and five tips, while Ellsmore had six aces, three kills and seven saves.

Macahado also impressed serving and finished with 11 aces and 10 kills, as well as six saves three assists and three tips.

Danica Dowd added seven kills, six saves, three aces and three assists; Mathews had 11 kills, 11 tips, seven aces and six saves; and Cantu-Mendez had 16 assists, three saves, two aces and two kills.

The Cats will have a bye in conference play on Tuesday before traveling to play St. Bernard’s on Thursday.