The Loggers continued their preparation for the Big 5 with a straight sets win over crosstown rival St. Bernard’s in volleyball action at Eureka  High on Tuesday night.

The Loggers started fast and took control of the game with a dominating first set, but the visitors would settle into the game and pushed their opponents all the way over the final two sets.

Eureka won 25-6, 25-21, 28-26.

“After we won the first set, St. Bernard’s showed a lot of fight and scrappiness over the next two sets, but we were able to edge them,” Eureka head coach Stephanie Napoleon said. 

The victory was founded on some good play at the service line.

“Eureka is a strong serving team,” St. Bernard’s head coach Sejay Sarti said. “They served consistent and hard.”

There were a number of standouts on both teams, including the play of Alena Battle, who is quickly establishing herself as a key player on this year’s Eureka team.

The junior middle blocker finished with a team-high 16 kills.

Makenzie Wolff and Elizabeth Rominger each added five kills in the win, with the latter also adding a block.

Makenna McNamara also impressed for the Loggers and dished out a team-high 10 assists, while teammate Eddy Hale led the strong serving performance with six aces.

Violla Kingsang (four aces) and Macy Secor (three aces) also had good nights serving.

“I really liked our energy and grit our Loggers showed tonight,” Napoleon added after the win.

Several players also impressed for the Crusaders, who are the defending Little 5 champions.

Anna Dorsch “had some key blocks at the net,” according to her coach, while Kayla Maples “was unstoppable at the net.”

Sophomore Claira Hoffman also had a good night, making some key blocks and playing a great serving game, her coach said.