It wasn't much different on Tuesday night than other Hamilton-Gilbert matchups in girls volleyball.

A tight match overall, a raucous crowd on hand. This time Hamilton managed to pull off a sweep in the season opener for the perennial big-school contenders. Scores were 26-24, 25-22 and 25-19.

Late last season with the playoffs a few days away, Gilbert prevailed via sweep. Both teams returned experienced starters from last year in this opener, although Hamilton possessed several more. Those veterans didn't disappoint.

Senior middle Preslie Anderson and junior outside hitter Darian Clark came through with 10 and 13 kills, respectively. Senior setter Sydney Lostumo, another starter from last season, logged 35 assists . New to the rotation is libero Kimber Kemp, who checked in with 15 digs.

Perhaps the impetus to Hamilton notching the sweep was the play of blockers Heaven Harris and Nya Buckner. Hamilton adjusted their rotation to pit Harris and Buckner side-by-side to try and slow Gilbert hitter Kaitlyn Lines. Through the first set and a half, Lines was met by little resistance to her constant pounding of winners. That block didn't stop Lines, but slowed her enough the rest of the way to ease the Huskies' burden.

"KT is a phenomenal hitter," Hamilton coach Sharon Vanis said. "You're not going to stop her, but you do have to do all you can to slow her down. We did a better job as the match went on."

Lines finished with 20 kills. She helped keep Gilbert in the opening set that saw the Tigers trail at one point, 15-7. They actually led once (19-18), but couldn't put two points together  after a 23-23 tie. A kill by Harris and Hamilton block gave the first set to the Huskies.

Hamilton started slowly in the second set, giving up five points to start it. Hamilton called time at that point. The Huskies didn't begin to make up ground until the five-point deficit was still there at 18-13. From that point on they outscored Gilbert 12-4. Lines had but two kills over that stretch as Harris and Buckner had begun making a difference. Hamilton scored the final six points of the set -- five with sub Sarah Miyazumi serving to the finish. Five different Huskies -- Kayla Banyai, Lostumo, Anderson, Harris and Clark -- recorded at least one kill during the 12-4 run.

The close defeats in the opening sets didn't deflate Gilbert right away. in the third The Tigers led 10-7, but surrenderd five straight points to lose the lead. They never led again and down the stretch Clark and Anderson led the attack that finished the match.

Gilbert coach Joe Hesse was proud of he effort his team put forth.

"We have some new faces," Hesse said. "We played better tonight than in any practice we've had. We learned a lot against a very good team. Before the match I expected more from Hamilton and a little less from us. I come away pleased with what I saw."