SEALY — Lady Tigers volleyball took down El Campo High School Sept. 12 at Tigers Gym by a final score of 25-13, 25-17, 23-25, 25-18.
Sealy took control early and barely fell in the third set, but cleaned up some things and ultimately battled out a fourth set win for an overall victory. "The first set, for sure, we came out strong,” said Sealy head volleyball coach Caroline Owen.
“High energy. The girls have been looking forward to this game for a long time. Came out the second set a little bit slower. Still got the win. That third set, kind of just lost some energy. Died a little bit. El Campo came back strong. It was do or die for them and they came back strong, so I’ll give them that. They had a lot of energy. Told the girls at the start of the fourth set they’re gonna give it everything they’ve got, so we got to bring it right back. Had a really strong start and just stayed on top the whole game.”
Senior outside hitter Annabelle Williams put the ball down a number of times throughout the game and adds a lot of power to her hits. “I think I have a responsibility to lead and bring the team together,” Williams said. “Just make sure we all get along.”
El Campo hung with Sealy in the beginning of the first set until the Lady Tigers poured it on about midway with eight points in a row to result in a 18-8 lead after an ace from sophomore defensive specialist Karly Kram. Sealy added another ace a few points later to follow a kill from Williams and make it 22-9. A ball out of bounds and serve in the net from El Campo to close out the set won it for Sealy at 25-13.
The second set was fairly even for a little longer than it was in the first set. Sealy peeled away with a 18-12 lead on a kill from senior middle blocker Avery Dittert, then another kill forced El Campo to call timeout at 21-15 in favor of the Lady Tigers. A ball in the net from the Lady Ricebirds and a tip ball from Sealy crowned the Lady Tigers the set with a score of 25-17.
Both teams traded points for the majority of the third set and El Campo distanced themselves more towards the end with a tip ball that gave them a 21-16 lead and forced Sealy to call a timeout. Sealy battled back and even tied the set at 23 with a kill from senior outside hitter Grace Eschenburg, but El Campo snagged the set with a ball in the net from Sealy and a kill of their own to take the set 25-23.
Sealy’s Dittert knocked down a kill to make it 6-2 in the fourth set, then El Campo fought back to make it 10-8 after a couple points and a ball in the net from Sealy.
A tip ball from the Lady Tigers put the scoreboard at 14-9 and they went on to score four-consecutive points afterwards for a 18-9 lead.
Sealy controlled the remainder of the set with a few kills from Williams and a ball in the net from El Campo to put the icing on the cake for a 25-18 set and match victory.
