Emory Rains girls hold off Lady Leopards
MOUNT PLEASANT, Texas—Liberty-Eylau took almost two sets to get in sync offensively and was unable to recover against Emory Rains Tuesday.
The Lady Leopards forced a fourth set, but the Lady Cats were able to fend off another rally to win the Class 4A bi-district match, 25-16, 25-12, 20-25, 25-20, at Willie Williams Gym.
The win advances Rains (27-13) to the area round later this week, and L-E’s season at 23-13.
“Before the game, I asked them to do me one favor,” L-E head coach LaTasha Harris said. “I said, ‘I haven’t asked you this all year, but I want you to leave it on the court.’
“Those last two sets, it left no doubt that they left it on the court.
Rains grabbed the momentum 12 points into the first set and scored five straight, turning the rally into a 14-7 lead with a 9-1 run. Liberty-Eylau responded with a 6-point rally of its own to make it 14-13, but the Wildcats came back with nine consecutive points, building a 23-13 advantage.
Following three in a row by the Leopards, Rains scored the next two to take the set advantage.
Liberty-Eylau kept pace with the Wildcats in the second set until Rains broke open a 4-point game with an 8-point barrage, going up 20-8. The teams traded points the rest of the way, the Cats scoring 4 of the last 5 to go up two sets.
“We came out slow; we went through some adversity this morning and were missing two back row players due to unforeseen circumstances,” Harris said. “They had to adjust to that, and once they realized that they could still compete that’s when the fight came.
“That third set, they fought hard and showed their grit.”
The Leopards wouldn’t go quietly, taking the early advantage in the third set and never relinquishing the lead.
L-E held leads of 3-1, 5-4, 9-5, 12-7 and 15-8 after scoring 10 of 13. Liberty-Eylau went up 23-14 when Rains pulled the momentum back to its side. The Wildcats scored five in a row and 6 of 7 to cut their deficit to 20-24.
Kyana Norman put down a kill to seal the set for L-E.
The Wildcats regained the
lead early in the fourth set, going ahead 9-3 quickly. The Leopards started chipping away at their deficit, making it 10-8, 14-13 before using a 5-point rally to go up 18-15.
Rains scored four in a row to take a 20-19 lead, and after L-E tied it, the Cats scored five straight to end the match.
“After the fourth set, I told them, ‘I’m proud to say I’m the head coach,’” Harris said. “They did everything I asked. I am proud.
“I look forward to seeing where the seniors will be going (collegiately) after this; some of them have already been getting looks from colleges. I look forward to what my underclassmen what they’re going to do in the future.”
Amoiya Gentry served eight points—including four aces— had nine kills and six blocks for Liberty-Eylau. Derrica Henderson had 19 blocks, five kills and seven points, and Kelly Cigainero had 25 assists, 11 blocks and 11 digs.
Keeley Norris contributed eight kills for the Leopards, Mariah Coleman had 15 digs, 22 serve-receives and seven service points, and Daycoria Meadows had six kills, 11 digs and four points.
Shelbi Sheppard swatted 15 kills, had 19 assists, 18 digs and five blocks for the Wildcats. McKenna Hildebrandt contributed 11 kills and nine blocks, and Summer Nerkowski had 10 kills.
Elissa Elliott had 21 digs for Rains, Vivian Bradshaw added 18 assists, and Presley McAree had 15 digs.