PITTSBURG, Texas - Avery is heading back to the regional volleyball tournament.
The Bulldogs overcame a slow start to win three sets in a row and eliminate Leverett's Chapel, 20-25, 25-19, 25-14, 25-13, in the Region III-1A quarterfinal round Monday at Jack Arnwine Competition Gym on the campus of Pittsburg High School.
Avery (15-11) will play at 7 p.m. in the Region III-1A semifinals Friday at Billingsley Field House in Fort Worth, Texas. The Bulldogs' likely opponent is defending state champion Neches, who plays Chester in the regional quarterfinals.
"It's been a while since we've faced competition," Avery head coach Brett Harp said. "That's just the way it is in Class 1A right now. It takes a while to get back in the flow of the game after a break."
Momentum was hard to come by early in the first set. The Lions pulled out to a 9-4 lead, but Avery cut its deficit to 12-9. After a pair of sideouts, Leverett's Chapel scored three in a row - the longest rally at that point - to go ahead six (16-10).
The Bulldogs responded with two points, followed by consecutive points by the Lions. Avery took the next four to get it back to 18-16, but LC scored the next three to regain a 5-point advantage (21-16).
The teams traded points the rest of the way as the Lions claimed the opening set.
Leverett's Chapel jumped out to a 5-1 lead in the second set before the Bulldogs fought back to 6-5. However, the Lions went on a 5-0 rally, prompting an Avery timeout at 11-5.
The Bulldogs answered with their own 5-point run, followed by a 3-point streak by LC, and then 5 in a row by Avery to take its first lead (15-14) and forcing a Lion timeout. The Bulldogs went ahead 17-14 before three in a row by Leverett's Chapel tied the score at 17-all.
The Lions scored one more before Avery tied the score for the third and final time - at 18 - to start a 6-point barrage and 8-1 rally to even the match.
The score in the third set was tied four times in the first 16 points, but the Bulldogs rattled off five in a row to prompt an LC timeout at 13-8. After a sideout, Avery took leads of 16-9, 18-10 and 20-11.
The Bulldogs scored 4 of 5 to close out the third set.
"Our kids on the back row, defensively, have gotten so much better," Harp said. "We kinda know where our kills are going to come from. Everything we've done this year has been a complete team effort.
"Everyone has their job and know where they're going to contribute, and nobody's job is more important than another's."
Leverett's Chapel grabbed the momentum early in the fourth set but couldn't hold on, as Avery went from down 5-2 to ahead 15-5 with a 13-point rally, during which the Lions used both timeouts.
The Bulldogs only allowed the deficit to get to single digits twice more and never closer than nine points.
Taylor Williams swatted 18 kills for Avery, and Emily Lamon and Karli Widemon had a pair of blocks each. Julianna Burkett had 13 assists, Briana Bridges added 12 and Carley Westbrook had 16 service points.
Jaycee Clark served 11 points and added 15 digs.