NEDERLAND — The Port Neches-Groves Rock-A-Noos sent a message to District 22-5A Friday.

The message is the Noos are a serious district title contender this year.

PNG defeated rival Nederland 25-19, 17-25, 25-23, 21-25 and 18-6. The Rock-A-Noos are now 3-0 in district play while the Bulldogs drop to 2-1.

“I thought we were the stronger team offensively,” PNG coach Barbara Comeaux said. “Nederland played unbelievable defense all match. We played a great team tonight. They (Bulldogs) never gave up. I am so proud of our kids and now we have to continue to work.”

Cheyanne Orozco led PNG with 15 kills followed by Hannah Jones who had 14 and Libbie LeJeune with 11. Kailey Oliver and Kaitlyn Gil each had nine kills.
Oliver led PNG with 18 service points while Bayja Newby added 17, LeJeune had 16 and Rachel Hammersmith had 15.

Baylee Priddy had a team-high 29 assists and Hammersmith added 21 and Newby had a team-high 22 digs. Brynna Bailey added nine digs.

Oliver led the Rock-A-Noos with five blocks while Gil added four and Jones had three.

Hannah Smith had five kills and four blocks for Nederland while Amanda Longlet finished with six blocks, three aces and five kills. Kameron Cuniff had three aces, Chelsey Gallagher had three aces and eight digs, Peyton Parker finished with 14 kills and seven digs and Katelynn Huckabay had nine kills and nine digs.

Abbey Montalvo led the Bulldogs with 36 assists to go with seven digs and Darcie Jones added 14 digs.

“We played very well,” Nederland coach Kristin Lemoine said. “We gave too many points away but we came together and worked through it.”

PNG hosts Memorial at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday and Nederland hosts against Ozen.
— Gabriel Pruett