Randall celebrates after rallying for a five-set win over Grapevine on Friday night in the Region I-5A semifinals at Lubbock Coronado. [Mackenzie Teal/ Press Pass Sports]
With each team backs against the wall, trailing two games to none after the first two sets, both the Randall Lady Raiders and district rival Amarillo High Lady Sandies found ways to win their respective Region I-5A Tournament semifinal matches Friday night at Lubbock Coronado.
Randall rallied back to take the three games and stun upset-minded Grapevine in a five-set thriller, 16-25, 17-25, 26-24, 25-18, 15-9.
Amarillo High followed suit in the night cap, stunning Fort Worth Boswell 28-30, 18-25, 26-24, 25-18, 15-11.
Randall fell behind 2-0, however, kept the match alive winning winning the last four points of the third game, 26-24.
From there, the momentum continued and the rally become complete.
The Lady Sandies fell behind Fort Worth Boswell, 28-30, 18-25. Like Randall, AHS took game three, 26-24, swinging the momentum that allowed the Lady Sandies to take games four and five 25-18, 15-11.
That sets up a third meeting between the Battle of Bell street rivals at noon, Saturday in the regional final. The winner punches a ticket to state.
Randall (41-3 overall) won both district meetings, beating AHS (33-13) in four sets in the first match, followed by a sweep the second time around.
History also repeated itself when it came to Randall and Grapevine. In 2015 Randall came-from-behind to beat the Lady Mustangs, who were coached at the time by Amarillo High graduate and former Nebraska national champion Kori Clements, in the same fashion in a regional final.
In the Randall match, Brianna Ford, Zoe Parker and Kiar Parker were outstanding in crunch time. Ford finished with 17 blocks, 16 digs and four aces. Kiar had 13 kills with four blocks and Zoe added 15 digs with 11 kills.
For the Lady Sandies, Chelsie Freeman put down 19 kills, Hannah Shipman made 43 assists and Piper Warren added 21 digs.
Randall def. Grapevine 16-25, 17-25, 26-24, 25-18, 15-9.
Records: Randall 41-3; Grapevine 30-16.
Top performers
Randall
Kills: Brianna Ford 17; Kiar Park 13; Zoe Parker 11.
Blocks: K. Parker 4.
Digs: Ford 16; Z. Parker 15.
Assists: Torryn Barrientos 22.
Aces: Ford 4.
Amarillo High def. FW Boswell 28-30, 18-25, 26-24, 25-18, 15-11.
Records: AHS 33-13; Boswell 32-15.
Top performers
AHS
Kills: Chelsie Freeman 19; Piper Warren 11.
Blocks: Freeman 6.
Digs: Piper Warren 21.
Assists: Shipman 43
Aces: Corrin Davis 3.
Region I-5A Tournament
at Lubbock Coronado
Randall def. Grapevine 16-25, 17-25, 26-24, 25-18, 15-9.
AHS def. Boswell Amarillo High def. FW Boswell 28-30, 18-25.
Regional championship
Randall (41-3) vs. Amarillo High (33-13), noon, Saturday.
CLASS 4A
The Hereford bench celebrates after stunning No. 1 Argyle on Friday in Abilene. [Bryan Hedrick/ For Press Pass Sports]
Hereford sweeps No. 1 Argyle
The Hereford Lady Whitefaces didn’t just stun the Argyle Lady Eagles.
Hereford absolutely dominated the state’s No. 1-ranked team on Friday night during the Region I-4A Tournament semifinals at McMurray University in Abilene.
Hereford led from start to finish, beating Argyle handily, 25-22, 25-16, 25-15.
The offense clicked as well as the defense. Rainey Aven came up clutch, finishing with a double-double. Aven was on the floor for 13 digs, scattered 26 assists and added two aces in the victory.
At the net, the intimidating force of Taytum Stow and Darcy Dodd played excellent. Stow knocked down 16 kills with five blocks, followed by Dodd’s 14 kills and three blocks.
Hereford (33-14 overall) advances to Saturday’s regional final for the first time since 2009. The Lady Whitefaces will face Krum (33-11) at 1 p.m. Saturday with a state title berth on the line.
Krum defeated Canyon in four sets Friday.
Hereford def. Argyle 25-22, 25-16, 25-15.
Records: Hereford 33-14; Argyle 35-6.
Top performers
Hereford
Kills: Taytum Stow 16; Darcy Dodd 14.
Blocks: Stow 5; Dodd 3.
Digs: Hannah Wood 13; Rainey Aven 11.
Assists: Rainey Aven 26.
Aces: Aven 2.
Region I-4A Tournament
at McMurray University, Abilene
Hereford def. Argyle 25-22, 25-16, 25-15.
Hereford (32-14) vs. Argyle (35-5), 5 p.m. Friday.
Krum def. Canyon 25-15, 25-20, 20-25, 25-14.
Regional championship
Hereford (33-14) vs. Krum (33-11) 1 p.m. Saturday.
Class 3A
Bushland blows out Brock
The No. 1-ranked Bushland Lady Falcons kept on rolling, easing past Brock in the Region I-2A Tournament semifinal, 25-13, 25-16, 25-17, Friday night at Lubbock Cooper.
Bushland continues its torrid pace, improving to 45-1, winning 39 straight matches.
The Lady Falcons now get a rematch of last years regional final with Boyd (30-5) at 1 p.m. Saturday.
The Yellow Jackets, who ended Bushland’s season last year, swept Shallowater on Friday.
Hallie Conklin and Addyson Tiffin each had nine kills for the Lady Falcons against Brock. Ansley Sims added 24 assists.
Bushland def. Brock 25–17, 25-12, 25-15.
Records:Bushland 45-1.
Top performers
Bushland
Kills: Hallie Conklin 9; Addyson Tiffin 9.
Blocks: Hallie Conklin 5.
Digs: Berri Boydston 12.
Assists: Ansley Sims 24; Taryn Shultz 12.
Aces: Taryn Shultz 2.
Region I-3A Tournament
at Lubbock Cooper
Boyd def. Shallowater 25-13, 25-16, 25-17
Bushland def. Brock 25–17, 25-12, 25-15.
Regional championship
Bushland (45-1) vs. Boyd (30-5) vs. 1 p.m. Saturday
Class 2A
Miscues plague Lady Hornets in regional semifinal loss
The Highland Park Lady Hornets won’t be making a repeat trip to the UIL state tournament in 2019.
The favored Lady Hornets were doomed by mistakes, falling to Miles in four sets (15-25 17-25 25-18 21-25) in a Region I-2A Tournament semifinal in San Angelo Friday night.
A fantastic season comes to a disappointing end, as Highland Park ends its year at 36-9.
The Lady Bulldogs (29-9) advance to Saturday’s regional final where they’ll face ?
Highland Park hurt itself time and time again Friday. The Lady Hornets played uncharacteristic with 57 errors in only four sets. That was the difference in the match.
Sophomore Nevaeh Rodriguez led the Lady Hornets with 16 kills and nine digs.
Miles def. Highland Park 25-15, 25-17 18-25 25-21.
Records: Highland Park 36-9; Miles 29-9.
Top performers
Highland Park
Kills: Nevaeh Rodriquez 16; Cynarah Rodriquez 11.
Blocks: Cassidy DeShong 3; Kendalyn Kosechata 1.
Digs: Emma Patterson 19; N. Rodriquez 9.
Assists: C. Rodriquez 18; DeShong 13.
Aces: C. Rodriquez 2; Patterson 2.
Region I-2A Tournament
at San Angelo Central
Miles def. Highland Park 25-15, 25-17 18-25 25-21.
Wink def. Hawley 25-9, 25-11, 25-21
Regional championship
Miles (29-9) vs. Wink (39-5), 11 a.m. Saturday.