The News staff report and Lamar sports information

Kaitlyn Gil registered three aces and 16 kills, and Port Neches-Groves held host Cleveland to single digits in two sets of a Friday sweep.

Gil served 19 points in the Rock-A-Noos’ 25-5, 25-11, 25-9 win. Holly Jones served 17 with two aces and assisted on 16 kills, Liz Bolyard killed 10, and Natalie Nelson made nine assists for the Indians (28-5, 6-1 in 21-5A), who remain tied with Barbers Hill for the district lead.

Bayja Newby had 12 digs, with Harlee Barnwell, Gil and Jones adding five each for PNG. Barnwell made five assists, Maylin Louvier blocked four, and Layla Stansbury and Gil added two blocks apiece.

The Rock-A-Noos visit Dayton on Tuesday.

•

Also Friday: Barbers Hill swept Nederland 25-15, 25-16, 25-17. Nederland (19-16, 5-3 in 21-5A) will visit Vidor on Tuesday.

Memorial was off and will visit Barbers Hill on Tuesday.

COLLEGE

Lamar 3, New Orleans 2

BEAUMONT — For the second time in as many games, Lamar’s volleyball team fought back from the brink of defeat to win a five-set match. The Cards faced match point twice and used a 4-0 run to capture victory over the University of New Orleans on Saturday.

Ivette Dim was one of four Cards with double-digit kills. The senior had 14, joined by Abigale Nash (12), Tomar Thomas (10), and Dannisha House (10). Bre’Ala Box hit .692 on the afternoon with nine kills as well. Zahria Scott (12) and Erin Pequeno (14) had double-digit digs, and Alyssa Legette (28) and Kyla Rogers (25) combined for 53 of the Cards’ 59 assists.

Thirty-four ties and 15 lead changes took place from sets 1 to 5, though just two ties and one lead change took place in the first game.

An incredible 12 ties and seven lead changes took place in a rowdy and raucous fifth set. Neither team led by more than two the entire game, and the game was evened up again at 12-12. It appeared as though New Orleans would capture the fifth set when it took a 14-12 lead, but coach Michelle Kuester called a well-timed stoppage of play and talked with her team. Whatever she said seemed to work as the Cardinals won four straight points, capturing the set 16-14 and the match 3-2. An impressive crowd cheered wildly as Nina Pevic spiked the ball into the court, cinching another improbable comeback for the Cards.