South Decatur’s volleyball team took some of the glitter off Crothersville’s senior night celebration by topping the Tigers 25-16, 25-11 and 25-18 on the Tigers’ floor Monday night.

Prior to the match, senior players Katrina Christian, Brittany Clem, Kashmir Kelshaw, Abby Mains and Brittany Ross were introduced and received flowers and gifts from their parents and team members.

”Those five girls are awesome young ladies,” Tigers coach Linda Luedeman said. “I’m very proud of their character and of the people they’ve become. Some of them have been together since second grade. People may not think about it, but it takes a lot of their time, and their energy to represent our school. I’m proud of them.”

Christian’s second kill of the night cut Decatur’s lead to 5-4 in the first set before the visitors went on a 14-4 run to take a 19-9 lead. Back-to-back kills by Mains cut the Cougars’ lead to 20-12 but that was as close as Crothersville could get.

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The Cougars broke a 1-1 tie with six straight points in the second set to lead 7-1, then went on an 9-1 run to lead 17-4.

Decatur got off to 5-0 In the third set before the Tigers closed the gap to 11-7.

Crothersville, sparked by two aces by Brittany Ross, tied the match at 11-11. The Tigers trailed 15-14 later in the match before the Cougars increased their lead to 21-14.

The closest the Tigers came after that was 23-18.

“(Decatur) was ready to play, and we were sort of rattled, and we just couldn’t keep our composure,” Luedeman said.

“We had several people in different spots. It was hard for them find their own niche where they were supposed to be on the floor. I thought the second game might turn out a little better. We ran our regular 5-1 with the exception we had one player (Nikki Hickman) out with injury. We hope for the best from her but her leg is very tender right now.”

The Tigers had 15 kills with Hall and Lamb leading with three each.

Serving, the Tigers were 37-43 with six aces with Lamb having two aces.

The Tigers (7-18) will play West Washington in the second match of the West Washington Sectional on Thursday night.