By Louie Avery
Assistant Sports Editor
Standing tall and playing tall can be one winning combination in volleyball, while short and skilled can be another.
Twelfth-ranked Gilmer (21-3) was at a considerable disadvantage height-wise Tuesday at the Rader Dome against Liberty-Eylau and Texas High, but it didn’t stop the Lady Buckeyes from defending their new state ranking.
Gilmer dominated the final three games of the opening match to easily beat the host Lady Leopards, 22-25, 25-21, 25-14, 25-13. It was the second time in four days that the Buckeyes beat L-E, having swept the Leopards last weekend at the Gilmer tournament.
In Tuesday’s second match Gilmer rallied from a 2-0 deficit to beat a much taller Texas High squad, 22-25, 17-25, 25-18, 25-17, 15-8.
L-E was leading Texas High in the final match, 25-23, 22-25, 25-20. Due to deadlines final results of that contest will appear in Thursday’s edition.
Gilmer 3, THS 2
It really wasn’t as close as the scores indicated during the first two games with Texas High in control behind the play of 6-1 Dedra Ganaway and 6-0 Alex Williams.
The Lady Tigers appeared en route to a stunning upset, building an 11-6 lead in the third game, but Gilmer stormed back behind the hitting of Kiara Jordan, Reyven Osborne and Sarah Williams.
“We came out a little flat at the beginning against Texas High,” Gilmer coach Michael Williams said. “This marked the first time all season we’ve been down 2-0.
Texas High and Liberty-Eylau are good volleyball teams and this was goodl for us with district starting next week. We just managed to survive tonight.”
THS never trailed in the first two games. The thirdgame was tied 18-18 when Gilmer took control with Osborne serving seven unanswered points.
The Tigers never led in the fourth or decisive fifth game.
Jordan led the Buckeyes with 11 kills and eight digs. Osborne had 11 kills, and Amee Odom added 10 kills. Brittany Helms had 22 digs and Kylie Burns was credited with 36 assists after getting 39 earlier against L-E.
Ganaway finished the match with 21 kills and five blocks. Williams had eight kills and three blocks. Cydney Minter had 18 assists and 10 digs, while Taylor Robnett and Sacoyle Baker combined for 39 digs.
Gilmer 3, L-E 1
Liberty-Eylau came out hot against the Buckeyes, but once Gilmer stole the momentum the match became lopsided.
After six early ties in the first game L-E built a 22-15 cushion, surviving a late rally by Gilmer. The Leopards never led again.
“Gilmer fought back and stole our thunder,” L-E coach Carrie Barber said. “We never got the momentum back. We just didn’t play well. Gilmer is a very good team and well coached, but we shut it down after the first game. I counted something like 97 total errors in the match for us.”
There were also six early ties in the second game, the Buckeyes claiming the lead for good at 7-6. That game ended on a kill by Williams, who is Gilmer’s tallest player at 5-9.
Jordan led Gilmer’s attack with 12 kills and 12 digs. Odom had nine points and 10 kills, while Helms was credited with 19 digs.
Fallon Wahlstrom led the Leopards at the service line with 10 points. Jatoya Arnold had eight kills, with Lacey Middlebrooks adding five kills.
Assistant Sports Editor
Standing tall and playing tall can be one winning combination in volleyball, while short and skilled can be another.
Twelfth-ranked Gilmer (21-3) was at a considerable disadvantage height-wise Tuesday at the Rader Dome against Liberty-Eylau and Texas High, but it didn’t stop the Lady Buckeyes from defending their new state ranking.
Gilmer dominated the final three games of the opening match to easily beat the host Lady Leopards, 22-25, 25-21, 25-14, 25-13. It was the second time in four days that the Buckeyes beat L-E, having swept the Leopards last weekend at the Gilmer tournament.
In Tuesday’s second match Gilmer rallied from a 2-0 deficit to beat a much taller Texas High squad, 22-25, 17-25, 25-18, 25-17, 15-8.
L-E was leading Texas High in the final match, 25-23, 22-25, 25-20. Due to deadlines final results of that contest will appear in Thursday’s edition.
Gilmer 3, THS 2
It really wasn’t as close as the scores indicated during the first two games with Texas High in control behind the play of 6-1 Dedra Ganaway and 6-0 Alex Williams.
The Lady Tigers appeared en route to a stunning upset, building an 11-6 lead in the third game, but Gilmer stormed back behind the hitting of Kiara Jordan, Reyven Osborne and Sarah Williams.
“We came out a little flat at the beginning against Texas High,” Gilmer coach Michael Williams said. “This marked the first time all season we’ve been down 2-0.
Texas High and Liberty-Eylau are good volleyball teams and this was goodl for us with district starting next week. We just managed to survive tonight.”
THS never trailed in the first two games. The thirdgame was tied 18-18 when Gilmer took control with Osborne serving seven unanswered points.
The Tigers never led in the fourth or decisive fifth game.
Jordan led the Buckeyes with 11 kills and eight digs. Osborne had 11 kills, and Amee Odom added 10 kills. Brittany Helms had 22 digs and Kylie Burns was credited with 36 assists after getting 39 earlier against L-E.
Ganaway finished the match with 21 kills and five blocks. Williams had eight kills and three blocks. Cydney Minter had 18 assists and 10 digs, while Taylor Robnett and Sacoyle Baker combined for 39 digs.
Gilmer 3, L-E 1
Liberty-Eylau came out hot against the Buckeyes, but once Gilmer stole the momentum the match became lopsided.
After six early ties in the first game L-E built a 22-15 cushion, surviving a late rally by Gilmer. The Leopards never led again.
“Gilmer fought back and stole our thunder,” L-E coach Carrie Barber said. “We never got the momentum back. We just didn’t play well. Gilmer is a very good team and well coached, but we shut it down after the first game. I counted something like 97 total errors in the match for us.”
There were also six early ties in the second game, the Buckeyes claiming the lead for good at 7-6. That game ended on a kill by Williams, who is Gilmer’s tallest player at 5-9.
Jordan led Gilmer’s attack with 12 kills and 12 digs. Odom had nine points and 10 kills, while Helms was credited with 19 digs.
Fallon Wahlstrom led the Leopards at the service line with 10 points. Jatoya Arnold had eight kills, with Lacey Middlebrooks adding five kills.