Prairiland clinches win against Redwater

MOUNT PLEASANT, Texas—Redwater closed the gap against Prairiland but never climbed out of the hole.

The Lady Dragons fell behind two sets before getting back in the Class 3A bi-district match Tuesday at Willie Williams Gym, but the Lady Pats were able to fend off a fourth-set rally by Redwater to clinch a 25-17, 25-14, 16-25, 25-21 playoff victory.

Prairiland (26-12) advances to play state-ranked Beckville in the area round later this week. The Dragons’ season ends at 24-12.

“It seems like we’ve fell behind and rallied back a lot this year,” Redwater coach Ocie Hanes said. “Our theme has kinda been overcoming adversity because we always seem to dig ourselves a hole and get down the first two games.

“Then we managed to start fighting in the third set. We’ve came back and won several matches.”

The Patriots took a slight early advantage in the opening set, going up 8-4. The Dragons rallied back and scored four in a row and 7 of 8 to go ahead 11-9.

The set was tied at 11, 12 13 and 14 before Prairiland

scored three in a row.. Redwater answered with two in a row but no closer. The Patriots scored 8 of 9 with a pair of 4-point rallies to seal the initial set.

Prairiland went on a 6-0 run early to take a quick 7-2 lead. Redwater was unable to cut the deficit closer than six points, and after making it 19-12, the Patriots took the next five to go ahead two sets.

The Dragons caught fire int he third set and never trailed after going ahead 9-8. Karlee Carmony served 10 straight points to close out the set for Redwater, forcing the fourth set.

“Starting the third match our girls played very, very well,” Hanes said. “They played hard, but it was just a slow start and too many unforced errors at the wrong times.”

In the fourth set, the teams traded blows like a pair of heavy weights. The Pats went up 9-6, Redwater scored three in a row to tie it at 11, Prairiland goes ahead 18-13 before the Dragons cut their deficit to 22-20.

From that point, Prairiland scored 3 of 4 to close out the match.

Carmony had 14 kills to lead the Dragons, and Karley Morrow added six kills and 15 digs. Emilee Calicott had seven kills, Keeley Wilbur 21 assists, Ally Walston 22 digs and Bella Fernandez 15 digs.