Nansemond-Suffolk Academy’s girls’ volleyball improved to 5-1 in the TCIS Tuesday evening with a four-game decision over Peninsula Catholic (25-13, 25-21, 19-25, 25-16).

The Lady Saints’ win, combined with Norfolk Collegiate’s win over previously unbeaten (in conference) Walsingham, also on Tuesday, puts NSA, Walsingham, Collegiate, and Greenbrier Christian in a four-way tie atop the TCIS standings.

The Lady Saints used a 9-0 run midway through game one to get the evening going in their direction.

A wide variety of offense helped NSA’s run take shape.

Two Michelle Boucher kills, a Minka Foster kill, two Jade Bishop aces and a pair of blocks from Kristen Nuckles were all part of the rally that put NSA up 22-11.

Game two was more of the same for the Lady Saints until late. Cruising with a 24-16 lead, NSA was a point away from taking the game when the Lady Knights made things difficult, rolling off five straight points.

Alexis Taves’ solo block at the center of the net finally finished off game two, but the PC momentum continued into game three.

In game three, PC built a 16-7 lead, which NSA was able to cut down to four on a couple occasions, but never closer as 14 Lady Saints errors helped out a renewed offensive attack by the visitors.

Neither side led by more than three points in game four until seven straight points off the serve of Boucher built a 20-13 NSA lead. Nuckles and Boucher combined four times in the last game for sets and kills. Leigh Pfeil served match point and Bishop won it with a crosscourt kill inside the right sideline.

Nuckles led the Lady Saints with 29 assists.

Foster had 17 kills and Boucher had 12.

The Lady Saints totaled 15 aces from six different players.

Over at PC, NSA’s boys completed a sweep, as Matt Hamlet and Brandon Whedbee combined for 15 kills and Patrick Clark put up 10 assists in a 25-19, 25-17, 23-25, 25-14 victory. The Saints will go to Norfolk Collegiate tonight.

The Lady Saints (20-5, 5-1) have three regular season matches remaining.

Tonight they host Norfolk Collegiate at 6:30.

Next week, NSA travels to Bishop Sullivan on Tuesday before holding Senior Night at home on Thursday against Greenbrier Christian.

andrew.giermak@suffolknewsherald.com