Photos by Ray Hamill/HumboldtSports.com

The St. Bernard’s Crusaders capped a big week on the volleyball court with a straight-sets win over the Ferndale Wildcats in Eureka on Thursday night.

In the past three days, the SB girls beat their two closest rivals in conference play to move within one win of securing at least a share of another conference championship.

They beat the Cats by a score of 25-21, 25-13, 25-19, having also defeated Hoopa on Tuesday.

St. Bernard’s is now 5-1 in the Little 4 with two matches remaining, while the Hoopa girls are now 4-2 after their straight-sets win over South Fork on Thursday.

Ferndale is now 3-2 with three games remaining.

The Crusaders came into the week with their sights on winning the two key matchups and they did not disappoint.

“Our athletes are focused this evening and determined,” head coach Rachel Evans said after Thursday’s win. “We have been working on a lot of defense and coverage and it has definitely been paying off in our games.”

Bailee White was instrumental in the victory, playing in just one set but finishing as the team’s second highest scorer.

Ella Hart also continues to impress and had another big night for the SB girls, scoring 11 points and finishing with five kills and 12 assists.

Jocelyn Sundberg also had a good night for the host school and added 12 kills and nine digs.

“She is a well-balanced, full-court player,” Evans said of the senior middle blocker.

The Warriors, meanwhile, won their game against South Fork by a score of 25-20, 25-15, 25-23.

It was another balanced team performance for the Warriors, who remain in contention for both the Little 4 championship and a North Coast Section playoff berth.

Maggie Morris led Hoopa in kills with six, while teammate Annie Lanning finished with four kills and six aces and Ivy Lamebear added three aces and seven digs.

Hoopa’s Harmony Nelson also impressed with 18 assists, while Julie Lanning had three kills and six digs, Rikki Lipscomb had three aces and Millennia McKindley finished with three kills.