As the end of the regular season draws near, the Highland Baptist volleyball team could be on the cusp of putting all the pieces together at the most opportune time.

At No. 13 in the LHSAA Division V power ratings, the Lady Bears (14-12) are in position to be one of the top 16 seeds that will host a first-round playoff game.

That’s a marked improvement from last year, when HBCS traveled to Metairie as a No. 23 seed and lost to No. 10 St. Martin’s Episcopal in four sets.

“We won four games last year,” Lady Bears coach Chynna Brooks said. “Our record may not have shown it, but we weren’t a bad team. We had a bunch of close games.”

The Lady Bears recently won seven of eight games, highlighted by five set victories over district rivals Academy of Sacred Heart-Grand Coteau and Acadiana Renaissance Charter Academy.

“The girls found themselves,” Brooks said. “We were young last year. We played with a lot of freshmen. Those freshmen have grown up. Now that we have that confidence and chemistry, we’re playing together and having fun.”

The Lady Bears have regular season games remaining vs. Ascension Episcopal (16-12) on Monday and at Episcopal School of Acadiana (13-13) on Oct. 24. The ESA game will be the district finale. The Lady Bears will also participate in the Southside Tournament this weekend.

“I want to see them keep growing,” Brooks said. “Every time we play, I see something good. I want to see them put it all together. One day, we pass good. One day, we hit good. I want to see us all come together.”

The Lady Bears lost to powerhouse Westminster Christian, the No. 2 team in Division V, last Thursday in Opelousas. Saturday at the HBCS Volleyball on the Bayou Tournament, the Lady Bears dropped matches to a trio of tough teams in Northside Christian, Iota and Eunice.

“We didn’t play our best today,” Brooks said. “I told them I’d chalk it up to a bad day.”

Northside Christian (17-6), which is 10th in Division V, defeated the Lady Bears in three sets (22-25, 26-28, 11-15). Setter Ali Louviere had 18 assists, 11 digs and two kills. Middle blocker Rylee Guthrie had five kills. Outside hitter Ava Armentor had eight kills and 17 digs. Middle-back Emily Bonnette served five of her team’s six aces, and Lilly Harris had four kills and 12 digs.

“Ava has been hitting well,” Brooks said of the senior, who leads the team in kills. “She’s always been a good hitter. This year, she’s taken over the leadership role.”

“Rylee was our libero last year. It’s her first time playing the middle. She’s killed it at that position. We can move her around wherever we need her.”

Iota (22-6), which is No. 8 in Division III, beat HBCS in two sets (25-22, 25-16). Statistical leaders included Louviere (17 assists, six digs), Guthrie (five kills, two blocks), Harris (eight digs, three kills, two aces), Armentor (four kills, six digs) Addison Yates (seven digs) and Maddie Clark (four kills).

Clark, a middle blocker, is also a standout player on the basketball team who has “controlled things for us,” Brooks said. Yates and Bonnette are sophomores who have “done a great job scooping everything up in the back row.” Louviere “runs the court,” Brooks added.

Division III No. 20 Eunice (15-8) defeated the Lady Bears in two sets (26-24, 25-19).