Amarillo High senior Currie Marusak set the Lady Sandies single season kills record against Palo Duro on Tuesday night at the AHS Activity Center. [Ben Jenkins/ Press Pass Sports]
It couldn’t have been written any better for Amarillo High outside hitter Currie Marusak.
Marusak celebrated Senior night in stellar fashion during the Lady Sandies sweep of Palo Duro, 25-10, 25-8, 25-6, by setting a new single season kill record surpassing her mentor and close friend Emerson Solano.
Solano, an Amarillo High and Texas Tech volleyball graduate, held the record of 557 kills since 2016.
Sitting only two kills behind Solano entering Tuesday’s District 3-5A match, Marusak wasted no time knocking down three kills in the Lady Sandies first five points giving Marusak the new record of 560.
“I always go to my favorite Bible verse of Joshua 1:9,” Marusak said. “Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.
Emerson is someone I’ve always admired. She’s always been a close friend, and is family to me. It was an honor to break her record and something I’ve aimed to do since I was a freshman.”
Marusak, a four-year starter and leader of the Lady Sandies, finished the night with 10 kills, six digs, and three blocks.
Even more good news for Marusak and her team, not only did AHS (28-11) stay unbeaten in district at 6-0, but the Lady Sandies clinched a Class 5A playoff spot in the process.
An eye-opening note, the storied AHS program has never missed the volleyball playoffs in 53 years as a program.
Tuesday’s highlights
Randall and Tascosa was the highlight match out of District 3-5A on Tuesday night.
The Lady Raiders were able to make it a season sweep of the Lady Rebels nabbing a four-set, 25-20, 25-19, 25-27, 25-11, victory at the THS Activity Center.
Paris Patterson had an unbelievable performance for Randall, as the senior hammered down a game-high 20 kills with 16 digs for a double-double. Sophomore Jordyn Gove also earned a double-double to compliment Patterson racking up 15 digs and 12 kills.
Randall stays a game back of Amarillo High in the District race at 5-1, and improves to 22-13 overall. Tascosa falls to 22-15 overall, and 3-3 in league play.
The No. 2-ranked Hereford Lady Whitefaces clinched a Class 4A playoff spot on Tuesday.
Hereford took the season series from rival Canyon thanks to a 25-13, 25-17, 25-16, sweep at home.
The Lady Whitefaces are closing in on a 40-win season, moving to 38-2 overall, and a perfect 6-0 in District 4-4A.
Senior middle blocker Taytum Stow led the way with 15 kills, six blocks, and two aces against the Lady Eagles. Canyon (14-21) stays in third place in the district at 2-4.
Last but not least, the Vega Lady Longhorns earned the program’s first ever victory in thrilling fashion by escaping Memphis in a, 25-21, 15-25, 22-25, 25-14, 19-17, five-set win on Tuesday.
Congratulations to first-year coach and Amarillo High graduate, Berklee Norris and her team on the historic win.
Tuesday’s scores
District 3-5A
Amarillo High def. Palo Duro 25-10, 25-8, 25-6
PD— Kills: Precious Johnson 4, Morgan Popplewell 1; Blocks: Johnson 1, Syvihanna Sutton 1; Digs: Aniyah Burley 7, Precious Johnson 4; Assists: Mearlina Kelly-Roberts 5.
AHS— Kills: Brielle Worley 13, Currie Marusak 10; Blocks: Addison McLain 2, Worley 1; Digs: Worley 7, Marusak 6; Assists: Peyton Shelton 21, Jo Moffitt 14; Aces: Shelton 3, Marusak 3, Joey Pennington 3.
Records: Palo Duro 6-28, 0-6; AHS 28-11, 6-0.
Randall def. Tascosa 25-20, 25-19, 25-27, 25-11
Randall— Kills: Paris Patterson 20, Jordyn Gove 12; Blocks: Kylee Williams 2, Rylee Miller 2; Digs: Patterson 16, Gove 15; Assists: Maretta Ramirez 20, Zenaida Murrillo 19; Aces: Taylor Irving 4, Ramirez 2.
Tascosa— Kills: Liv Sims 12, Bebe Irwin 10; Blocks: Megan Sims 6, Irwin 3; Digs: Kat Brown-Roberts 11, Dominique Davis 10; Assists: Abrey Galt 28; Aces: Sydney Fuentes 1, Berkley Warren 1.
Records: Randall 22-13, 5-1; Tascosa 22-15, 3-3.
Plainview def. Caprock 25-8, 25-13, 25-8
Records: Caprock 12-27, 1-5; Plainview 26-12, 3-3.
District 4-5A
Lubbock-Cooper def. Abilene Cooper 25-17, 25-12, 25-19
Records: Ab. Cooper 14-21, 1-5; Lub-Cooper 31-10, 6-0.
Lubbock Coronado def. Lubbock High 25-19, 25-21, 25-27 23-25, 15-10
Records: Coronado 13-21, 4-2; LHS 9-21, 0-6.
Abilene Wylie def. Lubbock Monterey 25-14, 25-15, 25-19
Records: Wylie 27-12, 5-1; Monterey 16-19, 2-4
District 4-4A
Hereford def. Canyon 25-13, 25-17, 25-16
Canyon— Kills: Brooklyn Simmons 6; Blocks: Taylor Thomas 1; Digs: Maclin Culwell 7; Assists: Ryne Roden 17; Aces: Roden 1.
Hereford— Kills: Taytum Stowe 15, Nickilah Whatley 7, Camryn Blair 7; Blocks: Stow 6; Digs: Digs: Miranda Acosta 18, Bonnie Vallejo 11; Assists: Micah Palacios 17, London Baker 16; Aces: Stow 2
Records: Canyon 14-21, 3-3; Hereford 38-2, 6-0.
Dumas vs Pampa 25-21, 25-15, 25-18
Dumas— Kills: Karina Puentes 8, Abree Elsheimer 6; Blocks: Sheda Madit 8, Brenley Rodriguez 3, Karina Puentes 3; Digs: Jazzy Ortiz 15, Halie Coon 7; Assists: Coon 18, Karyme Castillo 7; Aces: Ortiz 2, Castillo 1, Vanessa Martinez 1.
Pampa— Kills: Mikalie Floyd 14, Hallie Hawthorne 4, Mazi Smith 4; Blocks: Floyd 2, Smith 2; Digs: Haley Fossett 17, Ariel Lacher 11; Assists: Maecie Hawthorne 22; Aces: Smith 3.
Records: Dumas 29-11, 5-1; Pampa 21-14, 2-4.
Borger def. Perryton 25-17, 25-16, 25-15
Records: Perryton 11-21, 0-6; Borger 16-16, 2-4.
District 1-3A
Bushland def. Highland Park 25-7, 25-12, 25-7
Bushland— Kills: Emma Troxell 7, Kaela Neie 7, Abbie Howell 7; Blocks: Neie 1; Digs: Jaycee Adams 15, Jada Permenter 10; Assists: Millie Maupin 14, Logan Culpepper 10; Aces: Maupin 3, Adams 2.
Records: Highland Park 22-10, 1-1; Bushland 27-4, 2-0.
Dalhart def. River Road 25-11, 25-19, 25-19
Dalhart— Kills— Rhiana Todd 15, Dani Lewis 4; Blocks: Dylan Moore 3, Lewis 2; Digs: Todd 9; Assists: Jadyn Trusler 20.
Records: R. Road 13-20, 0-2; Dalhart 14-16, 1-1.
District 2-3A
Childress def. Tulia 25-17, 25-12, 25-23
Childress— Kills: Adah Henderson 18, Corbin Daniel 13; Blocks: Henderson 5, Lily Stephens 2; Digs: Kenzlee Carroll 18, Aspen Lomax 10; Assists: Stephens 20, Jena Preston 15.
Records: Childress 18-10, 1-2; Tulia 7-19, 0-3.
Shallowater def. Idalou 25-23, 23-25, 26-24, 25-23
Records: Shallowater 32-4, 3-0; Idalou 21-14, 2-1.
District 3-3A
Friona def. Dimmitt 25-11, 25-11, 25-12
Records: Friona 8-23, 3-4; Dimmitt 2-21, 0-7.
Littlefield def. Lamesa 25-15, 25-17, 26-24
Records: Lamesa 4-24, 1-6; Littlefield 18-16, 5-2.
Brownfield def. Denver City 25-16, 25-15, 25-19
Records: Brownfield 26-4, 7-0; Denver City 14-24, 5-2.
District 4-2A
West Texas High def. Olton 21-25, 25-21, 25-14, 25-18
Records: WT High 14-13, 6-0; Olton 7-10, 2-4.
Vega def. Memphis 25-21, 15-25, 22-25, 25-14, 19-17
Records: Vega 1-20, 1-4; Memphis 3-19, 1-5.
District 4-1A
Wildorado def. Darrouzett 25-6, 25-3, 25-10
Wildorado— Kills: Brooke Trayler 11, Bailee McAlister 6; Blocks: Kyndall Ragland 1; Digs: Jovi Perkins 7; Assists: Giselle Esparza 13, Reyna Segovia 11; Aces: McAlister 11.
Records: Wildorado 25-12, 4-1; Darrouzett 5-9, 0-5.
Miami def. Fort Elliott 25-7, 25-17, 25-6
Records: F. Elliott 12-15, 1-4; Miami 24-7, 5-0.
