DAPHNE, Ala.—The Robertsdale Golden Bears improved to 3-1 in Class 6A, Area 3 play with a 25-12, 25-12, 25-22 league win at Daphne’s Trojan Gym Thursday. The Trojans fell to 2-2 in the area standings with about two weeks left in the regular season. The best regular-season area record results in a home-gym advantage as the area-tournament host team. Only the top two teams from the area tournament advance to the sub-state playoff rounds.

 "I thought everybody played well today,” said Bears coach Metta Roberts. “Maddy (Petite) had a solid game. And when Maddy plays well, we do well. But tonight, we also had a lot of players step up big. Austin Richardson, Beth Taylor, Harley Volovecky and also Rosie Blount. I’m especially proud of Rosie who is a freshman who made her varsity debut tonight and was really strong and played really well for us.”

Petite led Robertsdale at the net with 19 kills and seven blocks,  Richardson with 15 kills and 21 digs, Blount with five kills, two blocks and 13 service winners and Taylor who had 29 assists with five kills.

Daphne was led by Niki McCall with five kills, Jordyn Valrie with four kills and a block, Jordan Filotei with 11 digs and setter Suzanne Evans with 16 assists, three kills, one block and two aces.

“Hopefully, we can keep playing at this level,” Roberts added. “We have struggled with getting off to a good start then letting our intensity down. Tonight we played an entire match, including the third game when Daphne came back and tied it a couple of times and forced us to focus and finish out. That’s what we needed, that’s what makes it a big win for us."

The third game was tied at 10-10, 15-15 and 19-19 before the Bears pulled away for the win.

The Bears will travel to Foley Tuesday for another Area 3 match at 5:30 p.m.  Daphne will host Davidson Monday and travel to Area 3 rival Fairhope Tuesday. Both matches set to start at  5:30 p.m.