Southwest moves into first in 28-5A
The Southwest volleyball team hosted Harlandale in a battle for first place in the District 28-5A standings, with the Dragons winning in four sets (25-20, 27-25, 25-22, 25-23) on Tuesday night at Southwest High School. Junior outside hitter Addison Bartlett led the two teams with 23 kills.
“I feel like overall as a team tonight, we played really great,” Bartlett said. “Our teamwork was on point, we didn't let any balls hit the floor and we were trying our hardest in putting all of our hustle onto the court.”
Harlandale (20-7, 5-1 28-5A) took an early 3-1 lead in the opening set before Bartlett rattled off four-straight kills to light up the crowd and push the Dragons ahead. Southwest (28-4, 6-0) built up a 9-4 lead to force the Indians to call a timeout. The Dragons managed to keep the first set out of Harlandale's reach, winning 25-20 behind Bartlett's 11 kills.
The fans were on their feet and screaming throughout the match. Bartlett credits her dominant first set and her team's overall energy to the home crowd.
“Our home crowd was amazing,” Bartlett said. “I'm so glad that all these people came out to support us and I feel it had a big factor in our win tonight.”
The two teams traded kills in the second set until Harlandale took an 8-7 lead. From there, the Indians built up to a 16-9 lead. The Dragons then went on a 14-7 run to tie the set at 23. Down 24-23, Southwest senior Cyndal Verstuyft blocked a Harlandale kill to tie the game at 24. The Dragons finally regained the lead at 26-25, and they then blocked another kill from the Indians, sending the ball straight down to give the Dragons a 27-25 set win and a 2-0 match lead.
The Indians fought off the sweep by winning the third set 25-22. Neveah Anguiano scored back-toback aces to push the Harlandale lead to 12-5. Cayla Reyes scored an ace of her own to make the lead 2215. The Dragons cut the deficit to two before Harlandale won the set off a Southwest team miscue.
Southwest and Harlandale traded points at the beginning of the fourth set before the home team took a 15-11 lead, the largest of the set. The Indians closed the gap, with the teams exchanging points until it was 22-22. Harlandale served the ball into the net, followed by another Indians miscue to give Southwest a twopoint lead. Anguiano had the final kill for Harlandale before junior outside hitter Alyssa Curd sealed the deal with a kill for the Dragons, winning the set 25-23 and the match 4-1.
Southwest coach Catherine Cortez was proud of her team's backbone after the loss in the third set.
“We had to change our mindset when we were in the middle of that and find a way to get out,” Cortez said. “It's the grit that we always push to have; to find a way.”
Tuesday night's win gives Southwest sole possession of first place in the District 28-5A standings. With its first league loss, Harlandale sits firmly in second place in the district standings. Medina Valley, which both the Dragons and Indians already defeated, remains in third place with a 4-2 district record.
Harlandale will next face Mccollum at 6 p.m. Friday at Harlandale High School. Southwest will host Southwest Legacy at 6:15 p.m. Friday at Southwest Gym.