The Amarillo High Lady Sandies celebrate after downing Lubbock-Cooper in the Class 5A regional quarterfinals in Dimmitt on Tuesday. [Ben Jenkins/ Press Pass Sports]
In a match that lived up to the billing, Amarillo High overcame a first set loss to take control and defeat Lubbock-Cooper in a Class 5A regional quarterfinal, 23-25, 25-23, 25-15, 25-21, in front of an electric atmosphere at the Bobcat Gym in Dimmitt on Tuesday night.
Tradition-rich AHS is headed back to the Region 1-5A Tournament for the astounding 35th time program history.
“It means a ton to me and to our players that they are a part of this amazing tradition at AHS,” AHS coach Mike Moffitt said. “We work as hard as we can to keep that tradition alive of making big playoff runs.”
The Lady Sandies (35-11) are now set to face Grapevine (18-17) in a Region I-5A Tournament semifinal at 6 p.m. on Friday at Lubbock Coronado.
The Lady Pirates (36-11), led by Dalhart graduate and head coach, Karli Morrison, overcame an early 9-3 deficit to steal the momentum, and take the first set 25-23. Un phased by the first set loss, AHS rallied back in the second set with nine straight points taking a commanding 16-7 lead, holding on for a 25-23 second set victory to even the match. AHS dominated the third set. Then in the fourth, held off a late comeback from LCP when Brielle Worley drilled a kill down the baseline to seal the win, 25-21.
“We really wanted this game,” Moffitt said. “Lubbock-Cooper had beaten us the last two times we had played including a match earlier this year. So they had a lot of confidence coming in, but we came out fast and fought hard.”
Explosive outside hitter Currie Marusak, who signs to play her college volleyball at Texas Tech on Wednesday, was no match for the Lady Pirates. Marusak was the most dominant player on the floor coming up clutch time and time again when called up knocking down 27 kills.
“We have a lot of fantastic players on this team, but what can you say about Currie,” Moffitt said. “Currie is just another level, and the best out there.”
Marusak echoed her coaches comments.
“We really wanted a chance to beat Lubbock-Cooper,” Marusak said. “They had beat us earlier this year, so this game meant so much to us. I’m super excited to get back to the regional tournament and see how far we can go.”
Marusak wasn’t alone in the win. Setter Jo Moffitt dished out 54 assists. Worley added 15 digs, and 2 aces, as Addison McLain, Ella Krusa and Joey Pennington were huge in the middle with three blocks.
District 3-5A made it an outstanding night, as Randall joined Amarillo High at this weekends Region I-5A Tournament.
The Lady Raiders took down Abilene Wylie in a Class 5A regional quarterfinal, 25-11, 25-22, 25-17, at Lubbock Coronado.
Randall (29-14) moves to Friday’s Region I-5A semifinal to take on Colleyville Heritage (40-10) at 8 p.m. back at Lubbock Coronado.
Sophomore Jordyn Gove was the star for Randall Tuesday, landing 12 kills with 16 digs for a double-double. Maretta Ramirez made 24 assists with two aces.
District 4-4A showcase
It was an all District 4-4A showcase in the regional quarterfinals Monday night, and the action didn’t disappoint.
Dumas rallied from a 2-0 deficit to Canyon, winning the final three sets for an epic five-set victory, 20-25, 21-25, 25-21, 25-21, 15-11, at the Tascosa Activity Center.
The Demonettes were led by Abree Elsheimer and Sheda Madit, who combined for 28 kills.
Dumas (35-12) is headed to the Region I-4A Tournament in Weatherford, and will face Argyle (30-12) in Friday’s regional semifinal.
Canyon finished its year at 19-22.
The No. 1-ranked Hereford Lady Whitefaces made quick work of Pampa for the third time this season, 25-15, 25-11, 25-6, in their quarterfinal match at River Road.
Hereford is now 46-2 overall, and play defending state champion and No. 6 Decatur (33-8), led by former Lady Whiteface coach Catherine (Beville) Foerster in a regional semifinal on Friday.
Senior middle blocker Taytum Stow pounded down 16 kills with six blocks in the win.
The Lady Harvesters end their season at 24-17.
Miami-Wildorado make school history
Both the Miami Lady Warriors and Wildorado Lady Mustangs made school history Tuesday night by punching tickets to the school’s first ever Region I-1A Tournament.
Both also did it in dramatic fashion.
Miami rallied to beat Buena Vista in five-sets, 18-
25, 25-20, 23-25, 25-12, 15-10, during a regional quarterfinal in Post.
Wildorado went to five as well, taking down Klondike in a wild, 22-25, 25-21, 31-29, 25-27, 15-13, quarterfinal match.
Kyndall Ragland had a monster effort with 25 digs and 20 kills to help Wildorado to the historic win.
Regional quarterfinal scores
Class 5A
Amarillo High def. Lubbock-Cooper 23-25, 25-23, 25-15, 25-21
AHS— Kills: Currie Marusak 27, Brielle Worley 15; Blocks: Worley 3, Ella Krusa 3, Joey Pennington 3, Addison McLain 3; Digs: Kaylee Ledbetter 10, Mady Castellion 7; Assists: Jo Moffitt 54, Worley 2; Aces: Marusak 3, Pennington 3.
LCP— Kills: Hope Douglass 12, Carli Colbert 7; Blocks: Hollin Level 3, D’leah Hill 2; Digs: Sydney Payton 15, Colbert 7; : Amanda Kell 20, Paige Rollins 13; Aces: Abby Curlee 2.
Records: AHS 35-11; Lub-Cooper 36-11.
Randall def. Abilene Wylie 25-11, 25-22, 25-17
Randall— Kills: Jordyn Gove 12, Paris Patterson 10; Blocks: Julia Woolsey 2, Gove 1; Digs: Gove 16, Taylor Irving 12; Assists: Maretta Ramirez 24, Zenaida Murillo 14; Aces: Ramirez 2, Murillo 1.
Records: Randall 29-14; Wylie 32-14.
Class 4A
Dumas def. Canyon 20-25, 21-25, 25-21, 25-21, 15-11
Dumas— Kills: Abree Elsheimer 15, Sheda Madit 13; Blocks: Madit 10, Brenley Rodriguez 8.5; Digs: Jazzy Ortiz 17, Halie Coon 11; Assists: Halie Coon 21, Karyme Castillo 19; Aces: Halie Coon 3.
Records: Dumas 35-12; Canyon 19-23.
Hereford def. Pampa 25-15, 25-11, 25-6
Pampa— Kills: Kills: Mikalie Floyd 6, Mazi Smith 4; Digs: Haley Fossett 8, Floyd 6; Assists: Maecie Hawthorne 15; Aces: Floyd 1, Maecie Hawthorne 1.
Hereford— Kills: Taytum Stow 16, Camryn Blair 10, Bonnie Vallejo 10, Nickilah Whatley 10; Blocks: Stow 6, Whatley 6; Digs: Miranda Acosta 19, Vallejo 12; Assists: London Baker 20, Micah Palacios 20; Aces: Micah Palacios 3
Record: Hereford 46-2; Pampa 24-17.
Class 3A
Bushland def. Shallowater 25-15, 25-14, 25-10
Bushland— Kills: Kaela Neie 13, Emma Troxell 9; Blocks: Troxell 3, Madyson Eberly 2; Digs: Jaycee Adams 24, Jada Permenter 10; Assists: Logan Culpepper 20, Millie Maupin 16; Aces: Adams 3, Permenter 3.
Records: Bushland 32-4; Shallowater 37-5.
Brownfield def. Highland Park 25-17, 25-15, 21-25, 26-24
Records: Brownfield 33-4; Highland Park 26-13.
Class 2A
Plains def. Sanford-Fritch 25-15, 24-26, 21-25, 25-19, 15-12
Records: Plains 27-9; Fritch 20-12.
Wink def. West Texas High 25-19, 25-14, 25-13
Records: Wink 40-4; WT High 17-16
Class 1A
Wildorado def. Klondike 22-25, 25-21, 31-29, 25-27, 15-13
Wildorado— Kills: Makenna Byrd 22, Kyndall Ragland 20; Blocks: Falon Rendon 4, Brooke Trayler 4; Digs: Jovi Perkins 32, Kyndall Ragland 25; Assists: Reyna Segovia 26, Giselle Esparza 24; Aces: Bailey McAlister 7.
Records: Wildorado 31-13; Klondike 19-19.
Miami def. Buena Vista 18-25, 25-20, 23-25, 25-12, 15-10
Records: Miami 29-8; Buena Vista 33-11.