TEXARKANA, Texas - Hooks went the distance to spoil Liberty-Eylau's home opener.
The Lady Leopards fell to the Lady Hornets in five sets at the Rader Dome Tuesday night, 25-20, 20-25, 19-25, 29-27, 15-9.
The Hornets had a firm grasp of the final set.
Abby Russ continued to will Hooks to victory, after scoring seven consecutive service points and also got the final kill to secure the Hornet win. Russ finished the match with 12 service points, five blocks and nine kills.
Liberty-Eylau opened the first set with firm control, until midway through when Hooks took its first lead, 13-12.
The Hornets rallied a late set surge to overtake the lead, and Emma Farquhar's final consecutive kills sealed the opening set. Farquhar finished the match leading the Hornets with 26 kills and seven service points.
The second set began much like the first, until Breanna Webster took over from the service line for the Leopards.
The set was tied 4-4 and Webster accounted for four unanswered points before the Leopards were called for a hitting infraction. Webster ended her night with eight service points and four kills.
Alyssa Whitten led the Hornets in the second set from the service line collecting seven service points.
After regaining the lead at 18-17, the Leopards held on the set with Webster and Simaya White at the service line.
Neither squad pulled away in the third set.
Liberty-Eylau gained the lead with Webster at the service line and never lost it.
Daycoria Meadows led the Leopards in the third frame with four service points and five kills.
Meadows continued the hot streak into the fourth set. Meadows scored L-E's first four points, all kills.
Hooks battled back to win the set behind the play of Whitten, who had 22 points and 20 assists.
The Hornets trailed most of the fourth set but ultimately won on Russ' two consecutive service points and continued the momentum in the decisive set.
Even Johnson added nine points and 22 assists for the visitors, and Alley Jefferson had 38 digs.
Hooks won the junior varsity match, 19-25, 25-20, 25-12. Natalie Whitten and Tiara Sanders had 13 pointrs each for the Hornets.