The News staff report

NEDERLAND — Port Neches-Groves finally found a test in District 22-5A volleyball. The Rock-A-Noos looked no further than Nederland.

PNG was one set away from opening district play with a 10th straight three-set victory, but Nederland pulled out a close feat before the Rock-A-Noos wrapped up a 25-22, 25-18, 25-27, 25-19 win Tuesday night.

“This was a good test for us,” PNG coach Barbara Comeaux said. “This was a character-builder. It’s hard to win three in a row in rally scoring.”

The Rock-A-Noos (23-5, 10-0 in 22-5A), ranked No. 16 in 5A by the Texas Girls Coaches Association, found themselves in plenty of rallies. That kept Bayja Newby going on the defensive end, and she responded with 37 digs in the match.

“I couldn’t believe it either,” Comeaux said. “We went four games with them, and they were long rallies. They might hit the ball, and [Newby] digs it. We had quite a few long rallies. They won a few, and we won a few more.”

Nederland (17-12, 6-4) was playing well on defense, too, Comeaux said, despite Elizabeth Bolyard’s 23 kills to lead PNG. Peyton Smith had 22 digs for the Bulldogs.

“They kept getting the ball back to us, and we made some unforced errors at the time,” Comeaux added.

Libbie LeJeune dug 19 and killed 13, Rachel Hammersmith totaled 12 digs and 16 service points, Baylee Priddy had 12 digs, nine kills and seven service points, Layla Stansbury blocked three and Bolyard blocked two.

Meg Sheppard and Smith each had two aces for Nederland. Albbey Montalvo made 14 assists, six kills and two digs, Karley McGill and Sheppard each had six kills, and Mackenzie MacFarlane finished with four kills and four blocks.

Also Tuesday, Beaumont Central swept Port Arthur Memorial 25-5, 25-16, 25-20. Memorial is now 14-12 and 3-7.