COLDSPRING — If you were anywhere near the Coldspring gym on Friday, you already know the Lady Trojans and the Lady Eagles of Woodville put on a volleyball showdown packed with energy, hustle, and a little bit of controversy.
In a four-set nail-biter, the Lady Trojans fell just short, with the final tally going to Woodville 3-1. The opening set went to the Lady Eagles, 25-19, but the Trojans fired back in the second, taking it 25-22 and evening the match. From there, the intensity only grew.
The third and fourth sets could have gone either way, both ending in razor-thin 25-23 scores. That’s where the crowd’s frustration set in, after several very questionable calls and re-dos left both benches and fan bases shaking their heads. While the scoreboard ultimately tilted in Woodville’s favor, the Lady Trojans left the court with their pride intact, and their heads held high.
The high note started on Sept. 16, when Coldspring downed Hempstead 3-0 (25-10, 25-19, 25-23).
Head Coach Dwain Anderson said that the standouts for the week were Cali Crowder, who had 62 assists and a 96 percent serve percentage; Ashlynn Holley, who had 28 kills and 32 digs; and Tess Phillips, who had 24 kills and 33 digs.
The Tarkington Lady Longhorns, a program known for a winning tradition, were in for a fight on Sept. 16 as the Shepherd Lady Pirates delivered a 5-game battle.
In one of the most thrilling matches of the season, the Pirates fought all the way to a tiebreaker, falling just two points short in a nail-biting 16-14 finish.
Shepherd came out swinging, taking the first and fourth sets 25-13 and 25-20, while Tarkington answered with 25-13 and 25-18 wins to force the decisive fifth. From Destiny Warner’s sharp line calls to Callie Dean’s aces and Jaz Richardson’s smooth sets, the Lady Pirates showed exactly why they’re the most improved team in the area.
On Friday, though, the Hargrave Falcons set the Lady Pirates back 3-0 (7-25, 11-25, 14-25).
Brooklyn White, Aliyah Thomas and Abbey Anderson all had 3 kills in the effort. Jazilyn Richardson delivered a pair of aces and led the team with 12 digs.
