No. 4 Wall Dominates No. 1 Odessa Compass in Three-Set Regional Semifinal Victory

COLORADO CITY, TX — The No. 4 Wall Lady Hawks traveled to Colorado City on Saturday to take on No. 1 Odessa Compass in the regional semifinals. Wall blew the match open early and dominated the Lady Cougars in a three-set sweep, 25-15, 25-15, 25-16.

"You have to respect them as a team," Coach Kimberly Branch said after the game. "Odessa Compass is solid all the way around, but I think we just came out and played a solid game. We were excited and ready."

Wall came out of the gates hot, jumping out to an early lead that the ladies quickly built upon throughout the set. It must have been surprising to the top-ranked Lady Cougars; Wall led by as much as 13 on the way to a 25-15 victory.

"If we get ahead early, we are able to relax a little bit and just play," Branch continued. "I think that's the case with any team. You want to get ahead and get that momentum going early on."

Sophomore Brynlee Graves continued to be a force for the Lady Hawks again in these regional semifinals. The young lady was all over the place but was particularly effective in securing break points for Wall with her presence at the net.

Odessa Compass played better in the second set, but Wall kept the pressure on. Lyla Stansberry buried a spike to push the Lady Hawks to ten points first as Wall led 10-7 early. Wall would score four consecutive points before Odessa Compass finally broke the run.

Stansberry continued to stand out with a service ace as Wall ran away with the second set, 25-15. When asked how she stays so consistent behind the line, she said it's all about practice.

"I think service is a consistent game," Stansberry said after the win. "It's very mental, but knowing that serving is just over and in, finding your spots, finding the weak passer and hoping it goes well. It takes a lot of practice. But we've been playing this sport our entire lives, so it becomes second nature, a mental game. Just relax, breathe and 'over and in'."

Odessa Compass refused to go away without a fight, and an absolute battle commenced in the third set. Wall kept trying to pull away, but the Lady Cougars kept fighting back.

Wall broke the stalemate around the 8-point mark. After a rally that seemed to go on forever, Graves buried a spike that ignited momentum and a run. The Lady Hawks went on to score five straight to take a 14-9 lead.

Hadley Kadlecek showed up big in the third set. Her blocks at the net and offense helped push Wall to 20 points first. Kynlee Stevens set up Peyton Dickson and Graves well for the final push, and Wall took the third set and the match, 25-16.

Next up, the Lady Hawks face off with Paradise in the Regional Final. Date, time and location for that matchup are still to be determined.