Keeping the momentum.

That was the goal Friday night for Evin Farris’ Belle Lady Tiger volleyball team in their season opener against their Highway 89 neighbors to the north in Chamois’ Lady Pirates.

In the night prior to their opener, Belle competed in preseason jamboree action at Plato against the host Lady Eagles and Dixon’s Lady Bulldogs.

Splitting with Plato dropping the first set 25-20 and winning the second set 25-21, Belle ended the night sweeping Dixon taking both sets by scores of 25-18 and 25-14.

Welcoming Chamois Friday night at BHS, the Lady Tigers had an overwhelming advantage with 18 players on their bench compared to nine for the visiting Lady Pirates.

Using the depth to their advantage, Belle made Farris’ volleyball head coaching debut a successful one sweeping Chamois in two sets, 25-12 and 25-6.

“It feels great to get that first win as a head coach of a new sport,” Farris said. “We played pretty well but we have areas we can improve on for later in the season.”

Opening the match with the serve, junior Gracie Schultz took full advantage with three aces. This helped the Lady Tigers jump out to a 5-0 lead early in game one.

A MaKenna Wuelling kill got Chamois on the board before Lady Tiger junior Kenzi Cetroute served two points giving Belle an 8-2 lead.

Leading 10-4, Belle sophomore Maddie Rohrer served the next three points pushing the Lady Tiger lead to 13-4.

Both teams traded points until Cetroute took over serving duties with a 20-9 lead.

Scoring the next three points with help on kills from Olivia Sanders and Schultz, Belle found themselves on the cusp of closing out game one.

Another kill from Sanders did exactly that helping Belle take game one from Chamois.

Nursing a 5-4 lead early in game two, Belle freshman Hali Naber served the next 12 points putting the set out of reach.

Rohrer then served the final five points of the match which included an ace to seal the deal in Belle’s 25-6 game-two victory.

Belle took on Calvary Lutheran last night (Tuesday) and will host New Haven on Thursday, Sept. 5 with freshmen, junior varsity and varsity matches starting at 5 p.m.