By DREW GRANTHUM/Sports Writer

CHELSEA — The Calera Eagles volleyball squad traveled to Chelsea Oct. 8 to take part in a tri-match competition with Chelsea High and Briarwood Christian.

The tri-match, which featured each squad facing off against each other in a best-of-three series, saw the Eagles take on host Chelsea first before setting their sights on the Lions.

In the first match, Calera dropped the opening set to the Hornets, 17-25 and the second set, 14-25, to fall to Chelsea 2-0.

Keyanna Gayden led the Eagles with eight kills, while Akia Harris had five kills and 20 digs.

The match proved to fare better for the Eagles, as the squad took down the Briarwood Christian Lions, 2-1.

The first set saw Calera jump out to a 7-3 lead. The Eagles kept the Lions at bay, leading 15-9 at one point. Slowly but surely, however, the Lions crept back into the set, tying the game at 16-16.

The tie was as close to the lead as the Lions got in the first set, as Calera held on for a 25-23 win.

The second set saw Calera jump out to another lead, this time 10-5. Once again, Briarwood came back, using a 9-1 run to take a 13-11 lead.  The Lions never looked back, closing the set out with a 25-17 win.

In the deciding set, it was Briarwood that jumped out the early lead, opening up a 9-3 advantage on the Eagles. Needing just 6 more points to close out the set and match, the Lions stalled. Calera went on a 6-1 run to tie the set at 10-10.

A 5-1 run by Calera closed out the set and match, 15-11 and 2-1, respectively.

Gayden had 10 kills, three aces and two blocks while Harris had 10 kills and four blocks.

The win moved Calera to 24-5 on the season.