Win lifts Vandegrift into first-place tie

Vandegrift didn’t relax after pulling out a close first set and went for the quick kill.

The Vipers put together a straight-set victory, 28-26, 25-17, 25-21, over host McNeil and moved into a tie for first place in District 13-6A with Westwood and Vista Ridge. The loss was the Mavericks’ second in district play.

Junior setter Delaney Dilfer said the Vipers (20-12, 4-1) weren’t satisfied with their play in the first set and were determined to step up their game the rest of the match.

“We’re all about our side and working on us, and we work so hard to be the team that we are,” she said. “We’re not going to play down to anyone’s level; we’re going to play up to ours.”

Dilfer and Brynne Wright connected for the set-win- ner in the opening frame, after the Vipers fought off two set-point opportuni- ties for McNeil (19-14, 3-2). Wright finished with a matchhigh 14 kills, while Annie Stadthaus (1.5 blocks) and Audrey Green provided two more reliable attack- ing options.

Lena Duncan was the kills leader for McNeil. The Mavericks made a late surge in the final set, but it came too late after Vandegrift had taken a 22-14 lead.

“We had to show that we really wanted it in everything we did,” Dilfer said, explaining how Vande- grift responded to the district-opening loss. “Whether it was sprints during prac- tices or whatever it was, we were showing and giving all of our effort.”

■ Bastrop def. Cedar Creek: It’s been a while, but Bastrop finally ended a losing skid against bitter rival Cedar Creek.

The Bears (20-10, 1-1 District 18-5A) ended a five-game skid against the Eagles Tuesday in front of a rowdy crowd at Bastrop High School with a 25-7, 25-15, 25-14 win behind 16 kills from senior Sarah Ghormley.

Ghormley put together one of her most efficient matches of the season with only three errors on 29 attacking attempts.

“I told the seniors, ‘This is your last chance to play Cedar Creek at home. You guys have not beat ’em yet,’” Bastrop coach Nicole Creek said. “That was kinda their motivation.”

Junior libero Caela McGee provided an early spark by serving 16 straight points in the first set.

Middle hitter Amanda Branecky had five kills to help Bastrop.

The loss dropped Cedar Creek to 3-23 overall and 0-2 in district play.

— JIM IRISH, AA-S CORRESPONDENT

■ Rouse def. Connally: Mostly healthy for the first time this season, Rouse put together a precise 25-11, 25-12, 25-9 win at Connally Tuesday.

The Raiders, coming off a 50-4 campaign and run- ner-up finish in Class 5A last fall, entered District 17-5A play 10-18 following an injury-riddled August, when it played a relentless schedule.

Rouse (12-18, 2-0) played about as clean a match as possible, never trailing after the first seven points of any set, and received solid hitting from sophomore Emery Reid (11 kills) and senior MacKenzie Huntley (nine kills).

“Once we got into the second set, we played more consistent,” said Huntley, one of three starters back from a year ago. “The key to our offense was running the fast tempo that we’re used to and not slowing it down for anything. We made sure we were talking and communicating what we were doing.”

Grayson Schirpik served five aces and paced Rouse’s defense with 30 digs, while setters Kara Erfurth and Jenna Hanson combined for 32 assists.

Chloe Baughman added five kills and three blocks for the Raiders (12-18, 2-0). Michera Moffett led Connally (14-14, 0-2) with four kills. — COLBY GORDON, AA-S CORRESPONDENT