Slidell middle hitter Ava Barduca’s eyes lit up.

Locked in a battle of defending state champions against perennial power Country Day, Barduca could see what was going to happen next as setter Ava Labat settled under a ball in the middle of the court near the net.

The next two seconds were a blur for the senior and the Country Day defense. A quick set to the middle and a powerful swing above the net by Barduca, followed by a thunderous thud as the volleyball crashed to the court.

“I love going up there and just putting the ball down,” the 5-foot-10 senior said.

One can see why Barduca has more than 250 kills, and there is still a little under a month left in the regular season.

“She is getting kills at an incredible rate,” Slidell coach Danny Tullis said. “She hit .870 in the finals of

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