Going into the third set of Friday’s match in Cameron trailing 2-0, it seemed as if it was all but over for the Lady Tigers.
But the Blue-and-Gold, a team that lost co-captain Haven Jimenez to a season-ending injury last week, became a team revived.
Rockdale battled back to win the third set 25-9 and tied the match with a fourth set victory 25-15. Deciding the match’s winner came down to the final set where the Lady Yoe capitalized on early Rockdale errors to get a quick lead and give Rockdale their third district loss with the set ending 15-11.
Despite the evening not ending in their favor, RHS head coach Kelsey Hudson saw the comeback as a positive display of how her players have stepped up in the absence of Jimenez, a four-year varsity letterman who was a key player for their 2020 play off team.
“I am very proud of the way our girls fought back from the 2-0 deficit,” said RHS head coach Kelsey Hudson. “We’ve had to make lineup changes since the injury, but girls have really handled the the adversity.”
“This team has a lot of heart, and I believe we have displayed that since one of their captains has been injured,” she said.
STATS—Halle Jimenez, 2 aces, 14 kills, 3 blocks, 12 digs; Emma Whitsel, 26 digs; Brande Breithaupt, 9 assists, 3 blocks, 4 digs; Julie Bartsch, 1 assist, 16 digs, 17 kills, 4 blocks; Yolianna Castillo, 24 assists, 20 digs, 2 kills, 1 block; Saige Robertson, 4 digs, 2 kills, 3 blocks, 1 ace; Elizabeth Perry, 5 assists, 12 digs, 3 aces; Hailey Webb, 1 assist, 3 digs, 8 kills, 4 blocks.
THIS WEEK—The Blue-and-Gold began round two of district play Tuesday evening after press time when they traveled to Lexington.
The Lady Tigers have a chance to avenge a Sept. 14 five-set loss to Caldwell on Friday when they take on the Lady Hornets at 4:30 p.m.
MILANO—The Lady Eagles won two straight this week, improving their District 25-2A record to 4-4, putting them in the fourth and final playoff spot with six games left in the regular season.
Last Tuesday, they defeated Bartlett in four sets 17-25, 25-16, 25-10, 25-15 before taking down Rosebud-Lott in a five-set tiebreaker 20-25, 25-12, 15-25, 25-23, 20-18 this past Saturday afternoon.
“On Saturday, I was especially proud of the girls effort and on-court demeanor,” said Milano head volleyball coach and athletic director Wendy King. “We have struggled with much adversity this season but my message has been constant that results should not dictate on-court behavior or effort.”
“The match they played Saturday made me proud to be their coach and it had nothing to do with the fact that we eventually won,” she said. “We faced match point multiple times and could have easily not won the match but that would not have changed how proud I was of them.”
STATS—Bartlett, 17-25, 25-16, 25-10, 25-15
Dara Doelitsch, 7 digs; Kadance Koenig, 2 kills, 9 assists, 1 ace; Karyme Santana, 12 digs, 7 kills; Peyton Robertson, 10 digs, 8 assists, 2 kills; Montgomery Popham, 1 block, 7 kills; Kylee Harris, 5 digs, 5 kills; Aaliyah McBrewer, 9 digs, 9 kills; Malinda Gordon, 13 assists, 4 kills.
Rosebud-Lott, 20-25, 25-12, 15-25, 25-23, 20-18
Doelitsch, 19 digs; Santana, 6 digs, 2 aces; Robertson, 14 digs, 10 assists, 15 kills; Popham, 2 kills, 3 blocks; Kylee Harris, 5 blocks, 5 kills; Gordon, 21 digs, 17 assists, 3 kills; McBrewer, 17 digs, 6 kills, 4 aces.
THIS WEEK—The Lady Eagles took on Thrall Tuesday after press time and face Granger Saturday afternoon.
First serve for the varsity game is scheduled for 12 p.m.
THORNDALE—Like the Lady Eagles, the Lady Dogs also won their last two games, sweeping Granger last Tuesday 25-17, 25-23, 25-20 and taking down Holland as well in three straight sets this past Saturday 25-12, 25-20, 25-20.
STATS—Granger, 25-17, 25-23, 25-20
Emily Reeves, 5 kills, 2 blocks, 1 assist; Landri Martinka, 9 digs; Natalie Garcia 1 assist, 3 digs; Kassidy Eubanks, 1 dig; Makaelyn Vivas, 4 digs; Hadley Meadors, 11 digs; Makayla Lafferty, 1 assist, 2 digs; Abby Dickerson, 18 assists, 6 digs; Natalie Newton, 6 kills, 1 block, 1 dig; Kyndal Robinson, 15 kills, 7 assists, 9 digs; Kinley Meadors, 8 kills, 2 blocks, 2 assists, 2 dig.
THIS WEEK—With a 6-1 record in District 25-2A, the Lady Dogs faced Buckholts after press time and take on host Rosebud-Lott Friday evening at the Bulldog Gym.
Game time is set for 4 p.m.
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