McGehee continued its strong start to the volleyball season with a decisive victory over Ursuline at the 18th annual “Pink Game” match held at Ursuline.

McGehee won 25-14, 25-14, 25-11 in three sets. Ursuline kept the sets close early on, but McGhee was able to come away with the sweep in the Wednesday night match dedicated to breast cancer awareness.

McGehee (14-3) went on an 8-0 run to end the second set, which included two kills from junior Kylie Buford. McGehee had 30 kills as a team with junior Kylie Buford and senior Campbell Banta leading the way.

“It was a great team effort,” McGehee coach Val Whitfield-Dunn said. “We have great leadership with our junior and our senior captains. Kylie (Buford) has been a tremendous athlete for us the last three years. She can set, she can hit, an all-around player.”

Buford finished with a McGehee-best 13 kills, with Banta finishing with six kills. Buford also had two blocks, which was second on the team behind seventh grader CeeCee Birden, who had three blocks and four kills.

“I’m just so proud of my teammates,” Buford said. “I give my energy for my teammates. When my teammates are doing well, I do well. When they aren’t doing well, I try to pick them up to show them that there’s a way to win. Just pushing them forward.”

McGehee get off to an early 5-1 lead in the third set as Buford delivered three kills. McGehee senior Indiahh Grant finished with five kills and a block, and Livie Montgomery delivered two kills and two aces.

McGehee had a 7-0 run in the first set and a 6-0 run to close out the opening set, and capped the victory with a 4-0 run to end the third and final set.

“Controlling the first ball, the first contact and keeping the ball in play (was key),” Whitfield-Dunn said. “Our motto is defense wins games, and I thought we served the ball well tonight.”

Ursuline’s Chloe Cordova finished with a team-high three kills along with a block. Belle Holley had two kills and four blocks for Ursuline (7-7), and Emma Dunkin finished with two kills and three blocks.

“(The pink game) is a very important cause and is rooted in tradition,” Ursuline coach Olivia Boudreaux said. “It’s raising awareness for one of our own, and I think it’s very important to keep that tradition going.”