WHITEHOUSE, Texas-When it came down to it, Texas High refused to be denied and set school history in the process
The Lady Tigers consistently rallied from behind against Joshua, and won its Region II-5A quarterfinal volleyball match in four sets, 25-15, 20-25, 25-21, 25-23, Tuesday at Whitehouse's Wildcat Gym.
The Tigers (27-11) will play at 5 p.m. Friday in the regional semifinals at Berkner High School in Richardson, Texas. Texas High will face Frisco Wakeland, which won its quarterfinal match in four sets over Frisco Reedy.
It's the first trip to the fourth round in Texas High volleyball history.
The Lady Owls' season ends at 27-15.
"I really like the camaraderie with this team," Tiger coach Melissa Hardy said. "Those seniors who've played varsity since their freshman and sophomore years, are really showing these younger girls that when you put your time in and sacrifice it does pay off.
"It's motivated the younger girls to go out and play their part for the team."
For the third set in a row, the Tigers had to come from behind early on in the fourth set.
The Owls grabbed a 5-1 advantage, but Texas High tied the score at 5-all. The Tigers tied it again at 6, 7, 8 and 9-beginning a 4-point run to give THS a 12-9 lead.
Joshua brought it back even at 18- and 20-all. Treyaunna Rush and Kaitlyn Cross had back-to-back blocks to make it 22-20 Tigers. Cross had another block, followed by a block by Cashlin Gooden.
The Owls scored the next three to bring it to 24-23, but an unforced error sent Texas High to the regional tournament.
Rush put down 26 kills, served 28 winners, had 14 assists and 10 digs. Cross swatted 11 kills and added nine blocks, and Gooden had four blocks, matched by Rush, and added 12 digs.
Texas High used an early 7-point rally to take a 5-point advantage and never trailed after 2-1 in the opening set. Rush served seven straight to make it 7-2 Tigers, and Lower had a 4-point serving barrage to spark a 7-1 run by THS to extend the lead to 18-11.
Joshua had brought the score to a point at 11-10 before Rush came up with a block, and Lower's serving spree. Cross put down a kill at 21-15 for the Tigers and then served out the first set.
The Owls grabbed the early momentum in the second set, taking a modest 4-2 lead and using a 5-1 rally to go up 9-5. From that point Texas High closed the gap with a 6-2 streak, tying the set at 11.
Joshua again pulled away with a 5-point run to go ahead 16-11, but the Tigers used a 6-2 run to get within one point (19-18). Following sideouts, the Owls tied the match with a 5-1 rally to take the second set.
Joshua kept the momentum to start the third set, building a 6-1 lead. Texas High cut the deficit to a point three times and finally tied the score at 16-all With a 4-point rally.
That barrage sparked a 12-3 rally by the Tigers to gain four set-points at 24-19. Cross blocked an attack, sending it into the back corner for the final point, giving Texas High a 2-1 lead in the match.
"My message to the girls will be to go out and play hard and stay focused," Hardy said. "We've always been the underdog, and even though we were the underdog we came out victorious. Anything can happen, and anybody can be beat, as long as we go out and play our game."
Katelyn Jordan had 18 assists for the Tigers, Olivia Lower added five kills and 15 digs, Shakeria Webb had three blocks, and Vicki Willis added 15 digs. Willis and Mia Wilson each served 14 points, and Cross and Lower added 13 apiece.