AREA VOLLEYBALL: Water Valley Fights Back for Sweep of Defending State Champ

WATER VALLEY, TX-- The Water Valley Lady Wildcats claimed a sweep against defending 1A State Champ Bronte.

"We won the day," said Water Valley Head Coach Brenda Greebon. "That's what our little philosophy is. Our little theme, I guess you could say, is Win the Day. We take one game at a time and we won the day." 

That sweep didn't come easy, however. Water Valley won 25-20, 25-15 and 25-23.

In the first two sets, the Lady Wildcats had to come from behind.

"I was very pleased," Greebon said of her team's fight. "I was very proud of 'em because, a lot of times, our girls get kind of down on themselves and it's hard to work back through. We've been working on mental toughness and that mental toughness was able to pull us through."

Water Valley trailed 7-3 in the first set before Greebon called a timeout. The Lady 'Cats would cap off a 6-2 run with a service ace by Kirstyn Greebon to tie the set at nine. They would eventually take a slim 13-12 lead on another service ace.

That 1-point differential would hold through most of the set until a diving save by Shelby Kolls fell on Bronte's side and shifted all momentum over to Water Valley, carrying them to the first set win.

Water Valley trailed 4-1 early in the second set, as well. A 7-0 run lifted Water Valley to an 8-4 lead. They would not look back and post a 16-7 stretch to force set point at 24-11.

Bronte would fight off that set point four separate times before falling on an attacking error.

The Lady 'Cats fought back once again after relinquishing a 6-3 lead in the third set. Water Valley reclaimed the lead at 16-15. After that point, the Lady 'Cats didn't trail again.

Bronte wouldn't go quietly, fighting off match point twice before dropping the third set.

Water Valley next travels to Veribest and Bronte (15-8, 1-1) will host Sterling City on Saturday.

Central Opens District With Sweep of Trinity

The Cental Lady 'Cats won their debut in District 3-6A with a sweep of the Euless Trinity Lady Trojans on the road.

Central won the first set 25-19.

After that the Lady 'Cats dominated the second set with a 25-17 win.

Trinity made Central earn the match with a 25-22 set win for the Lady 'Cats in the third.

The Lady 'Cats (22-5, 1-0) will travel to Haltom City this Friday before returning home against Abilene next Tuesday.

Miles Sweeps Paint Rock to Open District

The Miles Lady Bulldogs made quick work of Paint Rock on Tuesday, dispatching them in three sets to open District 7-2A play.

The Lady Bulldogs won 25-9, 25-9 and 25-17 at home.

Gissele Everhardt led Miles' offense with seven kills in the win. Tycie Lange and Skyler Brooks each had five. Halle Hudson posted 21 assists for the Lady Bulldog offense.

Lange also had five aces to help propel the Lady Bulldogs to victory.

Defensively, Kylie Crocker and Jessica Wilde led the way for the Lady Bulldogs by each posting six digs.

The Lady Bulldogs look to build on their 1-0 district record when they travel to Rochelle on Saturday.

Lady Broncos Held in Check by 4A Fredericksburg

The Sonora Lady Broncos struggled to get their offense going in a sweep to the Fredericksburg Billies on the road.

The Lady Broncos lost 25-20, 25-19 and 25-16.

Sonora tallied just 15 kills in the straight set loss. The Lady Broncos had 72 attacks against the Billies 

Mary Kyle Johnson and Brae Harris each posted six kills for the Lady Broncos in the loss.

Sophomore Raeven Harris was a bright spot on defense, tallying 18 digs for Sonora.

Sonora (12-12) will host Crane this Saturday for a matinee match at noon.

Sweetwater Takes Down Lady Hawks in Four

The Wall Lady Hawks dropped a hard-fought match on the road to Sweetwater on the road Tuesday.

Wall fell 25-16, 25-23, 22-25 and 26-24 to their Class 4A foe.

Leading the way for the Lady Hawk offense were Kylie Philips and Mallory Melton with six kills each. Lauren Scherr posted five kills in the loss. Rylee Braden and Rachel Stewart each posted four kills.

Rylee Luther was credited with 16 assists for Wall.

Defensively, Candra Barnett put up 17 digs. The only other Lady Hawk with double-figure digs was Melton with 11.

The Lady Hawks head into their final two non-district games with a road game at Bangs this Saturday before hosting Veribest the following Tuesday.