The Temple Tem-Cat junior varsity volleyball team kicked off their home schedule in style Tuesday evening, defending their home court at Wildcat Gym with a hard-fought 2-0 sweep over the visiting Smithville Lady Tigers.
In a tightly contested battle from start to finish, the Tem-Cats showed composure in crunch time, capturing both sets by matching 25-23 scores to seal the home-opening victory.

Temple’s defensive effort proved to be the difference-maker, anchored by standout back-row performances. Reliana Jerome delivered a game-high defensive showcase, digging up 11 balls to keep the offense flowing. Complementing Jerome's relentless play in the back row, Anisya Villela put together a stellar performance of her own, turning in 8 digs to keep key volleys alive.

At the net, Lala Akiode set the tone for the attack, leading the squad with 4 kills while adding 2 digs to complete a solid all-around outing. Jaelyn Bass and Catherine Dunklin also provided steady two-way production—Bass notched 2 kills and 4 digs, while Dunklin chipped in 2 kills and 3 digs.

Complete Match Statistics

Lala Akiode: 4 kills, 2 digs
Catherine Dunklin: 2 kills, 3 digs
Jaelyn Bass: 2 kills, 4 digs
Kimorah Fillmore: 2 kills, 1 dig
Heather Lactoen: 1 kill, 1 dig
Reliana Jerome: 11 digs
Anisya Villela: 8 digs
Isabella Camacho: 3 digs
Nekehyria Glover-Landrum: 2 digs
Deonnie Jones: 2 digs
Snisia Williams: 1 dig

Following their successful home opener, the Tem-Cats will have some time to prepare before returning to action on September 3, when they hit the road to compete in the Belton ISD sub-varsity tournament.