Amarillo High’s Ella Krusa (12) and teammate Currie Marusak celebrate during the Lady Sandies win against Bell Street rival Randall on Saturday at the AHS Activity Center. [Tom Carver/ Press Pass Sports]
On the final Saturday of the regular season, one of the best rivalries in state resumed with major implications on the line.
Just like it played out in the first meeting, Amarillo High was able to rally to comeback and take down Bell Street rival Randall in a great five-set match, 22-25, 25-16, 16-25, 25-20, 15-10, at the AHS Activity Center.
AHS (31-11 overall, 9-0 in district) claimed the outright District 3-5A championship for a second straight year, and will be the No. 1-seed out of the district. Randall (25-14, 7-2) will be the No. 2-seed.
The Lady Raiders led two sets to one, only to see the Lady Sandies push the match to a fifth and final set with a 25-20 win in the fourth. In the fifth set, AHS made the comeback complete with a 15-10 victory to take the season series, as well as push the Lady Sandies district win streak to 19 straight overall.
AHS senior Currie Marusak landed 27 kills in the match, followed by Joey Pennington’s 13 digs and blocks. Setter Jo Moffitt is approaching the Lady Sandies record books. Thanks to 49 assists against Randall the daughter of head coach Mike Moffitt is at 1,226 assists for the season. Moffitt needs only nine assists to break Brianne Barker’s single-season record of 1,234 set in 2006.
Saturday’s highlights
Tascosa claimed the No. 3-seed out of District 3-5A sweeping Plainview 25-15, 25-18, 25-12.
The Lady Rebels are 5-4 in district and 24-16 overall. Liv Sims had 12 kills with four aces against the Lady Bulldogs.
Dumas will be the No. 2-seed out of District 4-4A after downing Canyon 25-13, 19-25, 25-20, 25-19 at home.
The Demonettes (31-12, 7-2) secure second place behind district champion, Hereford. Canyon (16-22, 5-4) faces Pampa (23-15) at home Tuesday. If the Lady Eagles win they take outright third place.
Saturday’s scores
District 3-5A
Amarillo High def. Randall 22-25, 25-16, 16-25, 25-20, 15-10
Randall— Kills: Jordyn Gove 12, Paris Patterson 11; Blocks: Maci Morrow 7, Julia Woolsey 2; Digs: Taylor Irving 23, Gove 15; Assists: Maretta Ramirez 25, Zenaida Murillo 10; Aces: Patterson 2.
AHS— Kills: Currie Marusak 27, Brielle Worley 13; Blocks: Addison McLain 5, Joey Pennington 5; Digs: Kaylee Ledbetter 24, Pennington 13; Assists: Jo Moffitt 49; Aces: Peyton Shelton 2, Marusak 1.
Records: Randall 25-14, 7-2; AHS 31-11, 9-0.
Tascosa def. Plainview 25-15, 25-18, 25-12
Tascosa— Kills: Liv Sims 12, Bebe Irwin 7; Blocks: Abrey Galt 2, Irwin 2; Digs: Fuentes 10, Galt 8, Kat Brown-Roberts 8; Assists: Galt 22, Sanning 10; Aces: Liv Sims 4, Galt 2.
Records: Tascosa 24-16, 5-4; Plainview 27-14, 4-5.
Caprock def. Palo Duro 25-17, 25-17, 25-18
Records: Caprock 13-28, 2-7; Palo Duro 6-31, 0-9.
District 4-5A
Lubbock-Cooper def. Lubbock Monterey 25-12, 25-10, 25-14
Records: Lub-Cooper 34-10, 9-0; Monterey 17-21, 3-6.
Abilene Wylie def. Lubbock High 25-12, 25-14, 25-20
Records: Abilene Wylie 29-13, 7-2; LHS 9-24, 0-9.
Abilene Cooper def. Lubbock Coronado 25-22, 25-23, 25-23
Records: Ab. Cooper 16-22, 3-6; Coronado 14-23, 5-4.
District 4-4A
Hereford def. Borger 25-6, 25-7, 25-6
Hereford— Kills: Taytum Stow 18, Nickilah Whatley 9; Blocks: Stow 3, Autumn Wilburn 3; Digs: Miranda Acosta 15 Bonnie Vallejo 8; Assists: Micah Palacios 24, London Baker 14; Aces: Acosta 4, Baker 3.
Records: Borger 16-19, 2-7; Hereford 41-2, 9-0.
Dumas def. Canyon 25-13, 19-25, 25-20, 25-19
Dumas— Kills: Abree Elsheimer 13, Sheda Madit 10, Brenley Rodriguez 10; Blocks: Rodriguez 6, Sheda Madit 5; Digs: Jazzy Ortiz 18, Maris Rodriguez 9; Assists: Halie Coon 21, Karyme Castillo 19; Aces: Halie Coon 3
Records: Canyon 16-22, 5-4; Dumas 31-12, 7-2.
Pampa def. Perryton 25-9, 25-13, 25-7
Pampa— Kills: Mikalie Floyd 16, Mazi Smith 10; Blocks: Priscila Moreno 1; Digs: Haley Fossett 9, Valeri Anguiano 7; Assists: Maecie Hawthorne 27; Aces: Hawthorne 5, Floyd 4.
Records: Perryton 11-24, 0-9; Pampa 23-15, 4-5.
District 1-3A
Bushland def. Highland Park 25-7, 25-11, 25-18
Bushland— Kills: Madyson Ebberly 12, Kaele Neie 10; Blocks: Ebberly 3, Neie 1; Digs: Jaycee Adams 18, Jada Permenter 12; Assists: Logan Culpepper 17, Millie Maupin 16; Aces: Permenter 3, Maupin 2.
HP—Kills: Nevaeh Rodriquez 7, Kendalyn Kosechata 5; Blocks: Mercedes Harton 3, Kosechata 2; Digs: Harton 9, Rodriquez 8; Assists: Harton 15; Aces: Harton 2.
Records: Bushland 28-4, 5-0; Highland Park 23-12, 2-3.
Dalhart def. River Road 23-25, 25-6, 23-25, 25-11, 15-9
Records: Dalhart 15-18, 2-3; River Road 14-22, 1-4.
District 2-3A
Shallowater def. Tulia 25-14, 25-15, 25-19
Records: Shallowater 34-4, 5-0; Tulia 7-21, 0-5.
District 4-2A
Sanford-Fritch def. Vega 25-12, 25-19, 25-9
SF— Kills: Bella Price 12, Avery Connor 9; Blocks: Price 3; Assists: Kennedy Dallas 12, Kinley Roberts 12.
Records: Vega 1-22, 1-6; Fritch 17-11, 6-1.
Olton def. Memphis 25-12, 25-15, 25-18
Records: Olton 9-10, 4-4; Memphis 3-20, 1-6.
District 4-1A
Miami def. Fort Elliott 25-16, 25-14, 25-18
Records: Miami 27-7, 8-0; F. Elliott 13-17, 2-6.