Amarillo High’s Kaylie Ledbetter celebrates after a point during the Lady Sandies win against District 3-5A rival Tascosa on Tuesday night at the THS Activity Center. [Tom Carver/ Press Pass Sports]
Amarillo High dropped the first set only to rally back and win the next three to knock off arch-rival Tascosa, 16-25, 25-16, 25-22, 25-22, in the first round of the crosstown showdown in front of an electric environment at the THS Activity Center on Tuesday night.
The District 3-5A match saw high intensity throughout between the two old rivals as the Lady Rebels took the first set, 25-16. The Lady Sandies stormed back taking 7-of-8 points during the second set for a 25-16 victory. After AHS claimed the third set 25-22, the fourth set was highlighted by momentum swings from each team.
The Lady Sandies were seemingly in control up 18-14 only to see the Lady Rebels reel off eight straight points for a 22-18 advantage.
After AHS head coach Mike Moffitt called a timeout, the Lady Sandies regrouped to steal back the momentum closing out the win taking the final seven points.
“We talked a lot about having defensive intensity,” Moffitt said. “We did that, and we finally brought it into our passing game. It surely wasn’t the best passing night for us, so we struggled for a bit, but we turned it on. I feel we had really good serving when it was important. This team was big down the stretch.”
Currie Marusak and Brielle Worley were huge at the net combining for 41 kills with Marusak leading the way with 22.
“It was a super intense crowd,” said Marusak, who added 14 kills for a double-double. “Both teams battled, this was a game that was fun to play in. We were able to come together late, and we were able to put it together and work as one.”
Worley tacked on three aces. Setter Jo Moffitt was all over the court finishing with 43 assists.
Abrey Galt tallied 25 assists, five blocks and two aces to lead the Lady Rebels. Liv Sims had 11 kills, and Libero Kat Brown-Roberts hit the floor for 12 digs.
AHS stays perfect in District 3-5A at 2-0, improving to 24-11 overall. Tascosa falls to 19-13, 0-2.
District 3-5A
Randall also stayed unbeaten in league play earning a sweep at Caprock, 25-12, 25-14, 25-12 on Tuesday.
The Lady Raiders keep pace with rival Amarillo High moving to 2-0 in district and 19-12 overall. Caprock drops to 11-24, 0-2.
Jayli Franklin had six kills for Randall, while teammate Taylor Irving made 12 digs.
Plainview also stayed perfect in district downing Palo Duro at home, 25-6, 25-14, 25-20.
The Lady Bulldogs are 24-11 overall and 2-0 in district. The Lady Dons drop to 6-24, 0-2.
District 4-4A
Hereford survived an early first set test from Dumas to go on for a 29-27, 25-17, 25-10, sweep of the Demonettes at home Tuesday night.
The No. 2-ranked Lady Whitefaces continue to prove why they are one of the top contenders in all of Class 4A improving to 34-2 overall, and 2-0 in District 4-4A. Dumas (25-11) suffers its first league loss, and are now 1-1.
Middle blocker Taytum Stow was a driving force for Hereford on Tuesday. The powerful senior knocked down 18 kills, had six blocks, and added three aces. Teammate Micah Palacios tallied 17 digs, and 16 assists for a double-double.
Canyon earned its first district win making a long trip to Perryton well worth it with a, 26-28, 25-11, 25-15, 25-11, victory.
The Lady Eagles are in a 1-1 log jam in the district standings, and now 12-19 overall. Perryton falls to 11-17, 0-2.
It was a big night for freshman Sydney Winfrey, who led the team with 15 kills and a block. Brooklyn Kinsey and Ava Haugen chipped in with 11 kills, and Ryne Roden dished out 34 assists.
Pampa also found its first District 4-4A victory taking down rival Borger in sweeping fashion, 25-21, 25-14, 25-15.
Mikalie Floyd and Mazi Smith attacked the net combining for 18 kills, as Floyd led the team with 10. Floyd also had six aces with two blocks.
Pampa is 20-11 overall, and 1-1 in district. Borger (15-13) is also 1-1 in district.
Tuesday’s scores
District 3-5A
Amarillo High def. Tascosa 16-25, 25-16, 25-22, 25-22
AHS— Kills: Currie Marusak 22, Brielle Worley 19; Blocks: Marusak 3, Ella Krusa 3, Addison McLain 3; Digs: Marusak 14, Gracie Williams 12; Assists: Jo Moffitt 43; Aces: Worley 3, Danae Lopez 3.
Tascosa— Kills: Liv Sims 11, Bebe Irwin 7; Blocks: Abrey Galt 5, Sims 1; Digs: Kat Brown-Roberts 12, Berkley Warren 10; Assists: Galt 25, Warren 3; Aces: Sims 4, Galt 2.
Records: AHS 24-11, 2-0; Tascosa 19-14, 0-2.
Randall def. Caprock 25-12, 25-14, 25-12
Randall— Jayli Franklin 6, Julia Woolsey 5, Kylee Williams 5; Blocks: Rylee Miller 3, Williams 2; Digs: Taylor Irving 12, Ali Torrez 9; Assists: Maretta Ramirez 14, Zenaida Murillo 10; Aces: 4, Murillo 3.
Records: Randall 19-12, 2-0; Caprock 11-24, 0-2.
Plainview def. Palo Duro 25-6, 25-14, 25-20
PD— Kills: Syvihanna Sutton 6, Erin Mims 4; Blocks: Payton Redar 2; Digs: Mims 7, Sutton 6; Assists: Aniyah Burley 7, Mearlina Kelly-Roberts 5; Aces: Mims 2.
Plainview— Saige Brunson 13, Daniela Guzman 7; Blocks: Jacey Loudder 2, Adri Martin 2; Digs: Haley Alderete 12, Mikayla Carillo 6; Assists: Haley Curtis 30; Aces: Guzman 1, Curtis 1.
Records: Palo Duro 6-24, 0-2; 25-11, 2-0.
District 4-4A
Hereford def. Dumas 29-27, 25-17, 25-10
Dumas— Kills: Abree Elsheimer 6, Sheda Madit 6; Blocks: Sheda Madit 6, Brenley Rodriguez 6; Digs: Maris Rodriguez 17, Abree Elsheimer 11; Assists: Halie Coon 9, Karyme Castillo 8; Aces: Halie Coon 1.
Hereford— Kills: Taytum Stow 18, Camryn Blair 9; Blocks: Stow 6, Nickilah Whatley 3; Digs: Miranda Acosta 25, Bonnie Vallejo 22, Micah Palacios 17; Assists: London Baker 17, Palacios 16; Aces: Stow 3.
Records: Dumas 25-11, 1-1; Hereford 34-2, 2-0.
Pampa def. Borger 25-21, 25-14, 25-15
Pampa— Kills: Mikalie Floyd 10, Mazi Smith 8; Blocks: Floyd 2, Smith 2; Digs: Haley Fossett 18, Floyd 12; Assists: Maecie Hawthorne 25; Aces: Floyd 6, Hawthorne 4, Fossett 4.
Records: Pampa 20-11, 1-1; Borger 15-13, 1-1.
Canyon def. Perryton 26-28, 25-11, 25-15, 25-11
Canyon— Kills: Sydney Winfrey 15, Brooklyn Kinsey 11, Ava Haugen 11; Blocks: Winfrey 1; Digs: Maclin Culwell 18; Assists: Ryne Roden 34.
Records: Canyon 12-19, 1-1; Perryton 11-17, 0-2.
District 4-2A
West Texas High def. Sanford-Fritch 25-18, 13-25, 25-18, 27-25
SF— Kills: Bella Price 22, Avery Connor 8; Blocks: Price 8; Connor 3; Assists: Kennedy Dallas 17, Kinley Roberts 15; Aces: Roberts 4.
District 4-1A
Wildorado def. Fort Elliott 20-25, 25-22, 25-10, 25-16
Wildorado— Kills: Bailee McAlister 13, Kyndall Ragland 12; Blocks: Brooke Trayler 2, Ragland 2; Digs: Jovi Perkins 21; Assists: Giselle Esparza 20; Aces: Ragland 6.
Records: Wildorado 22-11, 1-0; F. Elliott 12-10.
Miami def. Darrouzett. 25-5, 25-5, 25-5
Records: Miami 20-7, 1-0; Darouzett 5-5, 0-1.
Non-district scores
Bushland def. Tulia 25-8, 25-7, 25-9
Bushland— Kills: Kaela Neie 8; Madyson Ebberly 6, Emma Troxell 6; Blocks: Ebberly 3, Troxell 1; Digs: Jaycee Adams 11, Logan Culpepper 8; Assists: Logan Culpepper 14, Millie Maupin 8; Aces: Neie 6, Culpepper 3.
Record: Bushland 23-4.
Dalhart def. Guymon, Okla. 25-15, 22-25, 25-17, 25-15
Dalhart— Kills: Rhiana Todd 21, Dylan Moore 6; Blocks: Moore 3; Digs: McKenzie Powers 11, Todd 10; Assists: Jadyn Trusler 32; Aces: Todd 5, Katelynn Hickey 3.
Record: Dalhart 13-14.
Holliday def. Childress 25-15, 25-19, 25-19
Childress— Kills: Adah Henderson 13, Corbin Daniel 6, Nayeli Miller 5; Blocks: Miller 3, Henderson 2; Digs: Kenzlee Carroll 14, Aspen Lomax 7; Assists: Lily Stephens 18, Jena Preston 10.
Record: Childress 17-9.
Idalou def. River Road 25-18, 25-19, 13-25, 25-21
RR— Kills: Shiyan Lozano 12, Annie Strickland 7; Blocks: Kaylee Baughman .5; Digs: Makanna Cooper 15, Rylee Kunkel 12; Assists: Kunkel 20; Aces: Lozano 5, Ava Sharp 4.
Record: River Road 13-17.