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Mia Castillo had 14 digs to lead the Lady Bucks on the defensive end of their 25-13, 25-21, 25-17 win over the Early Lady Horns on Tuesday, Sept. 12. Photo/Mike Williams -
Violeta Gallegos (12) had two kills and three digs for the Lady Bucks in their 25-13, 25-21, 25-17 win over the Early Lady Horns on Tuesday, Sept. 12. Photo/Mike Williams -
Cabel Perkins earned seven kills and had six digs for the Lady Bucks Tuesday night in their 25-13, 25-21, 25-17 win over the Early Lady Horns. Photo/Mike Williams
Tuesday night’s victory over Early for Lady Bucks volleyball was not a “bounce-back” win, it was growth from the potential Lady Bucks volleyball coach Krista Wilcox said she saw during last week’s loss at Brock. The Lady Bucks earned their first win of the district schedule Tuesday, Sept. 12 with a 25-13, 25-21, 25-17. The win was earned with a fast start and not succumbing to adversity later in the match.
Five straight points sparked the Lady Bucks in the opening set. Miley Roberts, Haylie Mendoza and Zaea Ragle each earned kills for the early lead. After letting the Lady Horns cut the lead down to two points with a three-point run, including two service aces, a 12-4 run by the Lady Bucks increased the lead to double digits and pushed the Lady Horns into their second timeout of the set. The Lady Bucks led by 11 points after a kill by Ragle out of the timeout. Three rallies later the Lady Bucks took advantage of two straight errors from the Lady Horns to take a 20–8 lead. While in the past, even with large leads, the Lady Bucks struggled to close out winning sets. Tuesday night proved to be an exception. With the Lady Bucks leading 23-13, a kill from Mendoza was followed by a service ace from Joni Jackson to close the first set.
“We’ve learned that we’re going to run an offense,” Wilcox said. “We’re not going to just give free balls later (in the set). We’re putting our passes where we need them. We’re getting more points at a time and been able to finish. We’re definitely over that hump that we had this year.”
While the Lady Bucks rarely trailed en route to their first district win of the season, the Lady Horns gave their greatest challenge during the second set by taking the lead on three occasions, including from the start with two straight points. Hadalee Saunders opened the set with a kill for the Lady Horns. Matty Boswell followed with her fourth service ace of the match.
Violeta Gallegos and Ragle combined for three kills over the next four rallies to even the set a 3-3. A pair of errors from the Lady Horns allowed the Lady Bucks their first lead of the second set at 5-3.
The two teams were even again at 8-8 before a block and kill from the Lady Horns’ Jensyn Rasor and an ace by Saunders gave the Lady Horns their second lead of the set at 10-8. Both teams were tied again at 13-13, 15-15 and 17-17 before The Lady Bucks began to pull away with the set. Mendoza and Ragle scored kills on consecutive rallies and the Lady Bucks never looked back. The Lady Horns got within one point for a final time at 21-20 with a swing out of bounds from the Lady Bucks. While out-scoring the Lady Horns 5-1 over the final six rallies, Cabel Perkins scored the final kill to clinch the set win for the Lady Bucks.
While the Lady Horns kept the final set close, the Lady Bucks ultimately pulled away for the win. It was a closely contested early portion with neither side able to take more than a two-point lead. After the teams drew even at 8-8, the Lady Bucks pulled away and never looked back. Using a 6-2 run, the Lady Bucks pushed the Lady Horns into a timeout.
Between a pair of timeouts from the Lady Horns, the Lady Bucks outscored their hostesses 8-6 to take a 22-16 lead. From the second timeout, the Lady Bucks gave up a kill from Jenna Hataway, the Lady Horns gave up two of the final three points on errors while Perkins scored a kill from a block.
“We played great volleyball Friday night and we played against a top team and easily showed them that we can go point to point with them. So, it really wasn’t about bouncing back because we know we played at a high level. Tonight was about pushing through and playing at a high level,” Wilcox said. “You can have a let down and make errors. You’ve got to go out and score your points.”
Mendoza led the Lady Bucks with 11 kills, three digs and two blocks. Ragle added eight kills, five digs, two blocks and two aces. Jackson led the Lady Bucks’ servers with three aces. Charlie Salazar continued her growth as a setter and led the team in assists with 18. She added seven digs and one ace. Mia Castillo led defensively with 14 digs.
“We were able to have a let down and come back and just finish,” Wilcox said. “We haven’t done that in some games.”
The Lady Bucks play their first home match since Aug. 8 on Friday when they host Eastland. The annual homecoming match will begin at 4:30 p.m. Following homecoming, the Bucks will host Comanche on Tuesday, Sept. 19.
