MAN — The Man High School Lady Billies volleyball team survived two tough matches with Burch and Tug Valley to win a tri-match last night in Man.

Tug took Man down to the wire in the first match of the night as the Lady Billies held on to get wins of 25-22 and 25-23.

In the second match, Tug Valley beat Burch 25-19, then lost to the Lady Bulldogs 26-24 on an Ashley Farley serve and 25-21.

Man beat Burch handily in the first game, 25-10, but the Lady Bulldogs played tough in the second game, losing to Man, 25-21. Burch kept close with the Lady Billies throughout the second game as Man held an 18-17 lead and then a 22-21 lead before pulling away for the win.

Man Coach Orlando Washington said he was proud of his girls’ for the way they played.

“They played like I expect them to play,” he said. “We played well. It was good. Only having eight players makes it a little tougher. We get to see the Lady Bulldogs again on Monday, then we go to Buffalo on Tuesday and then we get the Lady Tigers of Chapmanville on Wednesday. We’re playing the way I want us to be playing and we’re going to continue to get better. It makes me excited because I believe we’ll be playing well come sectional tournament time. All my girls played well. Keshia Cline played well. Morgan Church set really well. Bryanna Donahue played really well and Lindsey Whited served really well, the best she’s served all year. We have a lot we can build off of.”

The win improves Man to 6-9 on the season.

Burch Coach Jan Cisco said he was happy with the way his team played.

“Wins to us are important because this is an all-new team,” Cisco said. “We got the win over Tug Valley and then we relaxed a little bit, but we got back in the second game and played hard. We get in the hole too much at the first of the game and then we have to try to come out of it.

“My team has come along a little bit at a time. But, we’re working better together and I think it’ll work out better by the tournament time. All of the team works together. Rebecca Crank played well. The subs coming in off the bench did a good job. Kristen Sheppard did a good job and Ashley Farley is trying to play a lot for us. Our serves against Tug Valley were really good, but we let down against Man.”

Cisco said Man and Tug Valley are much improved since last season.

“We beat both teams last year and they have really improved,” Cisco said. “I’m impressed with Tug Valley and Man. They’ve both gotten better.”

Tug Valley Coach Vonda Preston said her team suffered some jitters that hurt their performance.

“They have to get over this nervousness,” Preston said.

Tug Valley Assistant Coach John Williamson said the Lady Panthers had some tough breaks in the match, but is getting better.

“I promise, by tournament time, we will be ready,” Williamson said.

Williamson also praised senior Karah Sheppard.

“I thought Karah played really well,” Williamson said.

Tug falls to 2-6 on the year and will return to action Monday at home in Naugatuck against Sheldon Clark (Ky.).

Burch returns home to Delbarton for a rematch with Man on Monday.