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After dropping the first game to the upstart Churchill Bulldogs, the Barons responded by winning the next three games to take the match 18-25, 25-13, 25-22, 25-21.

"We had a rough practice yesterday," said fifth-year B-CC head coach Michelle Clise. "I think a lot of [the practice] was in their heads early on. We got over that hump and got a little more consistent throughout [games] two, three and four, but definitely not to our potential."

The Barons (8-1) committed a host of unforced errors in game one to give Churchill (2-1) momentum and control of the match.

B-CC senior outside hitter Maddy Carretero knew what the source of the problem was and provided a spark for the offense in game two.

"We were not talking at all," said Carretero, who paced the Barons with 11 kills. "We were dead quiet on the court. I just think we opened our mouths and really got to trusting and talking to each other."

Led by Carretero's big hitting and serving, B-CC jumped out to a quick 7-1 advantage in the second game and cruised from there to tie the match at one game apiece.

"Anyone of them [can step up]," said Clise of her senior leaders. "Rosie [Eck], Maddy, Nancy [MaKuch] and we just seem to feed off any positive within a match. That is actually one of the good things about our team. We don't feed off of one person. We feed off of all 13."

Games three and four were much tighter affairs. After the Barons established a 6-0 lead in the pivotal game three, the Bulldogs roared back with eight consecutive points to take the lead, led by senior middle blocker Amy Kaufmann, who had four consecutive aces during the run.

"Amy is a very competitive and strong player," said Churchill coach Amanda Cook. "She gives 100 percent, has lot of heart and is a smart player."

Despite Kaufmann's valiant effort, Churchill would go on to drop game three, which saw four ties and three lead changes, with neither team gaining a distinct advantage until Carretero's nice kill shot made the score 24-22. The Bulldogs would then hit the ensuing volley out of bounds to give B-CC a 2-1 match advantage.

The Barons controlled game four throughout. Churchill would put some pressure on by pulling to within two points at 23-21, but Carretero came up with another timely kill.

All was not lost for the Bulldogs, who earned the respect of the 2006 and '07 3A state semifinalists.

"I asked [my players] two questions," said Cook. "‘Who gave 100 percent' and ‘Did you learn anything from this match?' As long as we accomplished that then we had some success even though it wasn't a win."