CROCKETT — If there is one thing local volleyball fans have learned over the years, it is that when the Coldspring Lady Trojans meet the Crockett Lady Bulldogs, the match rarely lacks drama.
The Lady Trojans traveled to Crockett looking to close out the regular-season matchup with a win, but the Lady Bulldogs had other plans. Crockett struck first, taking the opening set 25-18 and putting Coldspring on notice that this would not be an easy night.
Before the second set, Coach Krista Jones pulled her team aside for a serious conversation, the kind of “Do you really want this?” moment that can change the direction of a match. The Lady Trojans responded with a renewed focus, adjustments to the lineup and a different approach to the game. Whatever was said during that huddle, the message got through. Coldspring came roaring back to take the second set 25-11, then carried that momentum into the third, winning 25-17. The Lady Trojans kept control through the fourth set to finish the match with a 3-1 victory, completing a regular season sweep of the Lady Bulldogs.
Jones acknowledged that finding consistency has been a challenge, especially with recent roster changes and players stepping into unfamiliar roles.
“It was a slow start for us, all year long, and we've had ups and downs,” Jones said. “We had a girl transfer recently and one girl stopped playing. It's been a lot of adjustments in every game. It's just been a rollercoaster all year, but they've been fighting and overcoming it slowly and surely. I'm really proud of this group of girls, and we found an outcome that worked tonight. And that's all I can ask of them.”
Senior libero Kinsey Reynolds was candid about the team's uneven start and the work it took to turn things around.
“If I'm going to be honest, I think that we came in wanting to beat them, and that's true, but I think we also laid down a lot,” Reynolds said. “We let them get a lot of points that they shouldn't have gotten. But at the end, we all work together, we all figured out a way. But, I mean, it was just kind of crazy. It's crazy.”
That honest assessment reflected the match itself. Coldspring had to find its rhythm, trust its teammates and make the necessary adjustments before it could take control. Once the Lady Trojans settled in, they showed the determination needed to finish the job.
In the match, Jossilyn Manuel had 4 aces. Jessie Coker had 14 kills. Taonna McGraw had 22 assists. Kinsey Reynolds had 15 digs.
On Thursday, the Lady Trojans lost to New Waverly 2-3.
Scores were 25-14, 25-22, 21-25, 17-25 and 12-15.
Taonna McGraw had 4 aces. Ciara Phillips had 8 kills. Taonna McGraw had 27 assists. Ainsley Burling had 18 digs.
The Lady Pirates fell to Liberty 3-0 (7-25, 15-25, 9-25) on Oct. 20, ending the season winless in district.
Abbey Anderson led the team in kills with 5. Swayzie Nelson led digs with 10. Rylei Brewer had 12 assists.
