The Lady Eagles survived a thrilling first set, 26-24, and carried that momentum to a 3-0 (26-24, 25-20, 25-15) win at Youngsville High School.

The win evened the Lady Eagles’ mark at 5-5 overall and improved their record to 2-3 in Region 3.

“Definitely proud of how the played together tonight,” said Youngsville coach Barb Lutton.

It was Tidioute that had the early edge in the first set, jumping out to a 9-6 lead on a pair Kelsey Nuttal aces and a kill by Nakiesha Krouse.

Tidioute’s Nakiesha Krouse goes up for a kill.

Youngsville responded courtesy of Taylor Walters, who had three aces of her own (she had six total on the night), to even the score at 14-14.

It looked as if Youngsville had all the momentum, taking an 18-16 lead, but Tidioute went on a big run, going up 24-22, with Nuttal doing the damage serving.

The Lady Eagles rattled off the next four points, however, winning the set, and all the momentum along with it.

“We’re finally feeling what it’s like to win, and it’s exciting,” Lutton said.

The second game started off much different than the first, with the Lady Eagles racing out to an 11-4 lead on the strength of a pair of aces from Kamryn Weissinger and kills from Andrea Sveda and Jena Wilson.

Youngsville’s Kamryn Weissinger goes up and over the net during Thursday’s match against Tidioute.

The lead swelled to 17-7 on back-to-back aces by Amber Evans, but Tidioute fought back.

Shelby Proctor had an ace and Krouse a pair of kills as the Lady Bulldogs (2-6, 1-5) battled all the way back to 21-18.

Evans responded with a kill, however, and YHS was able to close out the second set.

The third set played out much like the second.

Youngsville again led 17-7, as Walters, Megan Foley, Sveda and Weissinger all were taking big swings.

Tidioute’s Shelby Proctor goes up over a pair of Eagle attackers.

Tidioute, despite the best efforts of Brooke Martin, Krouse and Greysen Fors, was unable to stage a comeback.

Leading Youngsville were Evans (13 service points, 6 kills, 8 aces), Walters (9 service points, 6 aces, 2 kills), Sveda (3 blocks, 7 digs), Foley (4 kills), Weissinger (9 service points, 3 aces), Wilson (8 assists) and Alyssa Molek (8 digs).

For Tidioute, Nuttal (5 aces, 3 digs), Martin (1 ace, 4 kills, 2 digs), Proctor (1 ace, 3 kills, 5 digs), Krouse (5 kills, 3 digs), Ariel Meece (1 ace ,1 assist) and Angelina Sabella (1 ace) led the charge.

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JV: Youngsville 2, Tidioute 0

The Lady Eagles won the JV contest, 25-9, 25-17.

Wilson (12 service points, 3 kills), Mallory Sherrard (9 service points, 5 kills) and Weissinger (5 service points, 3 kills, 1 block) paced Youngsville.

Proctor (4 aces, 1 kill), Sabella (2 kills), Aspen Fors (1 assist) and Natalie Valentine (1 ace) were tops on the team.