With just over two weeks until District 16-5A play starts, Texas High was hitting on all cylinders in its first home volleyball match of the season.
The Lady Tigers dominated at the net, on the back row and swept North Lamar, 25-18, 25-14, 25-17, on Tuesday at Tiger Center. THS will be back in action this weekend in the Mount St. Mary's Spikefest tournament Saturday in Little Rock.
"Our passing has gotten a lot better, and our defense has got a lot better," Texas High coach Melissa Hardy said. "We're working on being disciplined and playing up to our potential every time we take the court, coming out with that same intensity every single game.
"I'm proud of the girls. They did a good job tonight," Hardy said.
Texas High took control early in all three sets against the Pantherettes and never allowed the visitors to stage a comeback rally.
THS grabbed a 5-1 lead in the first and extended it to 13-6 before North Lamar was able to cut its deficit to three (13-10) and then two points (16-14). The Tigers scored six of the next eight and nine of 13 to close out the first set.
In the second set, Katelyn Jordan served six in a row to break a six-all tie and put Texas High up 12-6. The Tigers continued to control the momentum by extending the 6-0 run to 13-3, taking a 19-9 lead. The teams traded points the rest of the way.
Jordan finished with 19 winners to lead all servers. She also had 17 assists, matched by Treyaunna Rush's 17 assists.
The Pantherettes grabbed a brief 7-3 lead in the third set before Jordan's 5-point barrage. North Lamar tied the score again at 10, but the Tigers took eight of the next 10 to go up 18-12. The score was never closer than four points from that point.
Kaitlyn Cross swatted 12 kills and had seven blocks for Texas High, Olivia Lower and Rush added 11 kills each, and Lower also had six digs and three blocks. Unique McBride had six kills, Vicki Willis 12 digs, and Mia Wilson 13 points. Lower added 12 points, and Rush and Cross had 11 each.
Jacie McFatridge served nine points for North Lamar, Emma Stewart had eight-each with an ace-and McFatridge also had six solo blocks and four assisted blocks. Mackenzie Mitchell had six solos and three block-assists, Sophia Johnson put down seven kills, and Madelyn Clark contributed four digs and eight assists.
The Pantherettes won the junior varsity match, 25-12, 25-14, with Jaycie Proctor serving 19 winners and Maggie Stewart 10 points for North Lamar. Emily Meunier had six for Texas High.
North Lamar won the ninth grade match, 25-22, 22-25, 26-24. Maggie Burton served 17 for the Pantherettes, and Meunier had 14 for THS.