Nansemond River prevailed in both varsity volleyball matches on Tuesday at cross-city rival Lakeland.

In the ladies’ match, Nansemond River improved to 4-2 overall behind strong performances from setter Shanna Coriano and hitters Courtney Lowers and Danielle Gallagher. Coriano had 29 assists and Lowers and Gallagher combined for 36 kills in NR’s 20-25, 25-7, 25-21, 25-18 win.

In the boys’ contest, in a match-up between two teams expecting to be among the four in the Southeastern District Tournament at the end of the season, the Warriors had an easy time getting past the Cavaliers, winning 25-17, 25-15, 11-25, 25-19.

The Lady Cavaliers won the first set and had chances in sets three and four to put more pressure on Nansemond River.

In set three, Lakeland led 20-19 before Nansemond River won six of the final seven points to turn the set around and take a 2-1 lead in the match. A series of blocks and kills by Gallagher sparked NR’s run late in the third set.

NR kept going to a 9-5 lead in the fourth set before Lakeland fought back. Back-to-back blocks by Porshe Garner made it 10-10 and Garner kept carrying Lakeland with a kill, then an ace, on consecutive points to put Lakeland ahead 13-12.

NR answered with four straight points and the Lady Warrior attack kept going to close out the match. Lowers, who had a match-high 21 kills, put down eight of them in the final set.

“I’m incredibly pleased with how we played in games two and four. We executed well and we did all the right things at all the right times,” said Nansemond River head coach Cristine Pisani.

“Our execution was lacking just a little in games one and three. We were doing some great things, but it can be a game of inches and some of the things we were doing we falling just inches short in those games,” said Pisani.

Lakeland (1-4, 1-4) hosts Grassfield on Thursday at 6 p.m. Nansemond River (4-2, 3-2) travels to face Western Branch on Thursday.

In the boys’ half of the doubleheader, Nansemond River proved too athletic and too versatile in its attack for Lakeland. Josh Howard totaled 39 assists. Kyle Briesemeister had 13 kills and Kerrington Harris added 11 kills.

In the first two sets, Nansemond River led from wire-to-wire. NR bolted to a 5-0 lead to start the match.

Briesemeister, Cheynne Maupin, Zach Vann and Harris each had multiple kills in the set. Briesemeister led the way with five kills, with powerful spikes coming from the outside.

NR got out to an 8-2 lead in set two. Maupin scored a pair of points as strong serves by Briesemeister led to errant passes on Lakeland’s side and Maupin was at the center of the net to tap down the kills. Harris had two assists, a kill and a block out of the first eight NR points.

The Warriors continued on to a 15-6 lead and eventually to a 2-0 lead in the match. Howard already had 19 assists.

“We executed a little better tonight than in any of our past matches,” said Nansemond River head coach Vincent Pisani.

The setter and the big hitters did the job for the Warriors, but so did libero Tyler Brown, said Pisani.

“Our passing is getting so much more consistent,” said Pisani.

“When Josh can set from inside the 10-foot line, it leads to better kills and more kills. Our passing is getting better and that’s largely because of T.Y. (Brown),” said Pisani.

Pisani put in reserves, except for in Howard’s setter position, for game three and Lakeland rolled to an easy win.

Pisani was confident enough to be able to wait until set four to bring his starters back in. The first-string Warriors picked up right where they left off, getting out to a 5-1 lead in set four.

Hayden Champigny, who had no kills and no aces until the fourth set, added four kills and a couple jump-serve aces to help the Warriors pull away.

Mike Estienne led Lakeland with 19 assists. Scott Asbell had nine kills and Chaise Hodge had seven kills. The Cavaliers (3-2, 3-2) host Grassfield in another important district contest on Thursday evening.

Nansemond River (5-1, 4-1) plays at Western Branch on Thursday at 7 p.m.