MOSS BLUFF — Sam Houston moved a match away from its second consecutive trip to the Louisiana High School Athletic Association state volleyball tournament on Wednesday with a straight-set win over district rival Barbe, 25-19, 25-21, 25-16.

“Although I’m sad we knocked out another local team, I’m excited that we were able to win in three straight sets,” Sam Houston head coach Rene Fontenot said. “Barbe came out and played hard, as expected.”

No. 5 Sam Houston (34-7) will play the winner out of No. 12 Natchitoches Central and No. 21 Airline in the Division I regional round.

The state tournament will start on Thursday, Nov. 9, at the Cajundome in Lafayette.

Sam Houston won a first-round playoff game for the fifth time in the last five seasons.

Sam Houston played without starting middle hitter/blocker Ava Henry, who was sidelined with an injury at the Episcopal of Acadiana Spooktacular tournament over the weekend, but started the opening set with a commanding 7-1 lead.

“Aside from not having one starter due to an injury at the ESA tournament, the rest of the girls are getting better each day and working hard for and with each other.”

The Bucs (16-21) pulled within four points, 9-5, on Morgan David’s ace and a kill at the middle of the net by Claire McMorris, but the Broncos pushed their lead back to 10 on a 10-4.

Down 9-5 in the second set, the Bucs went on a 7-1 run. Kennedi Burks helped get things going with a kill from the left side, and McMorris tapped one over the net for a 10-9 lead. Roy Boyd gave the Bucs their biggest lead, 12-10.

Sam Houston took back the lead on a 6-0 run and led by as many as five points before the Bucs made a late run to cut the gap to 1, 22-21, on a kill by Burks. Sam Houston closed the second set on back-to-back kills by Kat Manuel and Mallory Wills.

With Henry out, Sam Houston adjusted its offense to use a pair of setters. Manuel (3 kills, 8 digs, 3 blocks, 4 aces, 16 assists) and Bailey Foolkes (14 digs, 2 blocks, 11 assists) combined for 27 assists. Wills (13 kills, 5 blocks) and Aubrey Portie (11 kills, 4 blocks, 2 aces, 10 digs) combined for 24 kills and nine blocks.

Division III

Westlake 3

Pearl River 0

WESTLAKE — No. 13 Westlake opened the playoffs with a win for the second consecutive season on Wednesday, sweeping No. 20 Pearl River 25-9, 25-11, 25-10.

The Rams travel to No. 4 Catholic-New Iberia in the regional round of the Division III playoffs. The game is set for 5 p.m. on Friday. Catholic-New Iberia beat No. 29 Frederick A. Douglas 25-10, 25-6, 26-24 on Wednesday.

Saniah Captain (8), Magaret Jordan (6) and Gabby Guillory (5) combined for 19 kills. Maddy Guillory had 25 assists and four aces.

Division I

No. 5 Sam Houston 25-25-25

No. 28 Barbe 19-21-16

Barbe (16-21): Kennedi Burks (12 kills), Roy Boyd (8 kills, 8 digs), Ann Kat Barrett (18 digs), Claire McMorris (6 kills, 4 blocks). Sam Houston (34-7): Kat Manuel (3 kills, 8 digs, 3 blocks, 4 aces, 16 assists), Aubrey Portie (11 kills, 4 blocks, 2 aces, 10 digs), Addie Melendy (6 kills, 8 digs, 2 aces), Bailey Foolkes (14 digs, 2 blocks, 11 assists), Salem Arceneaux (11 digs), Anna Claire Norris (8 digs), Mallory Wills (13 kills, 5 blocks).

No. 4 Slidell 25-25-25

No. 29 Sulphur 14-18-20

Sulphur (16-19). Slidell (33-5).

Division II

No. 12 Lakeshore 25-25-25

No. 21 LaGrange 15-8-13

LaGrange (17-10). Lakeshore (15-15).

Division III

No. 13 Westlake 25-25-25

No. 20 Pearl River 9-11-10

Pearl River (16-11). Westlake (24-13): Saniah Captain (8 kills, 5 digs, 3 blocks), Magaret Jordan (6 kills, 6 digs), Gabby Guillory (5 kills), Lady Fradieu (4 kills, 9 digs, 7 aces), Maddy Guillory (25 assists, 4 aces), Emma Tradewell (3 kills, 3 aces, 13 digs).

at Catholic-New Iberia Friday at 5 p.m.

No. 9 Iota 25-25-25

No. 24 Jennings 17-6-10

Jennings (16-12). Iota (27-7).

No. 6 Vandebilt 25-25-25

No. 27 Vinton 8-10-7

Vinton (16-11). Vandebilt Catholic (33-9).

No. 10 University 25-25-25

No. 23 St. Louis 16-20-18

St. Louis Catholic (15-16). University Lab (27-7).

Division V

No. 2 Westminster 25-25-25

No. 31 Hamilton 8-7-7

Hamilton Christian (10-15). Westminster Christian (26-10).