By DREW GRANTHUM/Sports Editor

ALABASTER — There were a few tense minutes midway through the match, but a rally in the fourth set helped guide the Kingwood Lions volleyball team to a 3-1 win over Bessemer Academy on Sept. 2.

The Lions kicked off the first set on a roll, opening with a 5-1 run to begin the match. A 10-3 run followed, and the Lions found themselves up 15-4. Down 17-4, the Rebels tried to mount a run with a 3-0 run, but the Lions’ offense was simply too much, and Kingwood cruised to a 35-7 win in the first set.

Bessemer Academy opened the second set by scoring the first point, but a 5-0 run from Kingwood saw the Lions take the early lead. Bessemer countered with a 3-2 run to make it 7-4, but again the Lions distanced themselves opening a 10-4 lead. The Lions led by as many as nine at one point in the match, but a late run by the Rebels cut the gap four points at 23-19. The Lions held on to take the set 25-19, and a 2-0 match lead.

The Lions opened the third set with a 5-1 run, but the Rebels refused to go away, fending off a sweep by taking a 26-24 win in the set.

In the fourth set the Rebels opened up with a strong 6-1 run, stretching the lead out to 9-3. The Lions used a 7-3 run to cut the lead to 12-10, eventually going up 17-16. It was all the Lions needed, closing the door on the Rebels and the match, 25-20.

“Everybody contributed,” Kingwood head coach Tony Boyd said. “It was a total team effort. It sets us up for tournament play. It was stiff competition. You need games like this every now and then to keep you honest.”

Kathryn Boyd posted 20 kills, five aces and five digs, Katie Allen Etheridge had 13 kills, two blocks, three aces, Kirsten Boyd had 26 assists, four kills and three aces and Kaylan Montgomery had eight kills, three aces and two blocks.

The Lions move to 6-0 with the win, and will face Coosa Valley Academy Sept. 11.