MONTGOMERY – In this case, there was absolutely no chance for disappointment.

Lake Creek’s No. 22 classified Class 5A volleyball team scored a 25-13, 25-6, 25-6 win over Cleveland on Tuesday.

Lions improved to 21-8 overall, and district 20-5A to 6-0. Cleveland fell to 2-31, 0-6.

“I always tell our girls that it doesn’t matter who we play, we know they can beat us,” said Lake Creek coach Taryn Driver. “That’s why you play volleyball. You play because there has to be a winner. Every game is not taken lightly. We come out and try to fire on all cylinders and be intense from the start and try to gain that momentum. You know our expectation to play every opponent with respect. “

Little time was wasted by Lions taking advantage of the momentum.

Payton Woods had two kills and three aces to put the Lions 5-1 ahead. Cleveland’s Valerie Brown had her own ace when the Indians cut it to 6-4. But a Tyson Menville ace and a pair of Anna Ertischek kills helped get Lake Creek into the top 15-5. Lauren Green’s tip on the net extended the Lions’ lead to 18-9. Woods knocked out back-to-back kills and an Indian service mistake ended the opening sentence.

“I think we really tried the whole time to be disciplined and to keep a positive attitude,” said Ertischek, who finished with 16 kills and a hit rate of 0.800. “So it really helped us not to pace up and down.”

In the second set, Lake Creek took the lead 8-1 after four kills by Ertischek, with Sarah Caminita serving. Ertischek hit eight kills on the set before Grace Ellis stood in for her.

“I think we were just working the whole time to stay aggressive and not just make the moves,” said Ertischek. “It improved our game ten times to stay aggressive.

“We always score before our game so it’s really important that we remember our goals and make sure they are really important to us throughout the game. And just stay intense. “

Lauren Hilty’s kill increased the Lions lead to 14-2. Reese Micklos had an ace, and Masey Riley served two more as the Lions moved within two points of the set. A couple of Woods kills sealed it for a 2-0 lead at Lake Creek in the game.

Brown fired an ace to keep the Indians within 3-2 early in the third set, but the Lions expired five points in a row, the last after a putaway from Menville. Candice Tarver’s kill helped Cleveland bring it down to 10-5. Ellis and Ertischek paired up for a big block, and Riley tore off two aces in a row as Lake Creek extended the lead to 20-6. Maggie Sexton’s overpass kill and an Indian attack mistake put the game in the books.

Riley had seven of Lake Creek’s 16 aces. Woods had nine kills and three aces and hit .727. Greene finished with 29 assists. Reese Saxon, Hilty, and Caminita had five digs each. Tarver finished with four kills and Brown had two of the Indians’ four aces.

“As Anna said, we have goals before every game and every set,” said Driver. “I think that every time they have to achieve something that keeps them motivated and focused. We are definitely blessed it is amazing that we have 14 girls on our list and any of them can do the job. We let them know that their time could come at any moment. “

Lake Creek departs for Caney Creek at 6:30 pm on Friday.

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