LEMOORE - The North High volleyball team's bus ride home probably felt longer than how quick Lemoore was able to knock off the Stars in Tuesday's playoff opener.

That's because, it probably was.

The Tigers, seeded No. 4, beat the visitors from Bakersfield in straight sets 25-22, 25-10, 25-19 to move on to Thursday's Central Section Division II quarterfinals.

"I thought the girls really stepped it up tonight," said Lemoore head coach Kim Rix. "They all played really well."

But it wasn't without a little drama early and late in a match that was over in just a little more than an hour.

North and Lemoore went toe to toe in the first set.

The teams were tied at 21-21 and 22-22 before the Tigers broke off three straight points, including a powerfull kill by Kathleen Anderson to give Lemoore set point.

After the Tigers coasted to the second set win 25-10, the Stars kept it close in the third, almost forcing a fourth.

Once it was 14-14, there were four more ties before North took a 19-18 lead after scoring two straight points.

But Lemoore ended it scoring the next six points.

"They were better than what they were ranked," Rix said. "That caught us a little off guard."

For the Tigers, Kathleen Anderson had 7 kills, 3 blocks and 3 aces.

Tiffany Webb added 24 assists and 14 digs.

Beighly Ramirez and Caitlan Brassart had 22 and 11 digs respectively.

Lemoore, now 27-6 overall, will face No. 12 seed Yosemite.

The Badgers earned their spot in the quarterfinals with a 3-2 upset on the road at No. 5 Golden West.

Golden West and Lemoore faced off last week, with the Tigers rallying after losing the first two sets to win a thriller 24-26, 23-25, 25-23, 28-26, 15-10.

Game time Thursday is 7 p.m. at the Events Center.

(Nov. 11, 2009)