Area Volleyball Seasons Come to an End

By Will Johnson

Messenger Reporter

EAST TEXAS – The 2016 volleyball season, unfortunately, is now officially over for all teams covered in The Messenger’s Fall Sports Preview.

The majority of teams previewed did not make the postseason and once the playoffs began, most of those who did qualify were gone after the first week.

The Elkhart Lady Elks fell to the Maypearl Lady Panthers in three sets – 28-26, 25-19 and 26-24 while the Westwood Lady Panthers also fell in three sets to the Rio Vista Lady Eagles, 25-18, 25-15 and 25-17.

The Trinity Lady Tigers took on the Woodville Lady Eagles and lost in four sets – 8-25, 11-25, 25-23 and 18-25.

The Kennard Lady Tigers competed in District 22-2A throughout the regular season and then moved into the Class 1A playoffs. They received a bye in the Bi-District round of the playoffs but fell to the Chester Lady Yellow Jackets in five sets –   9-25, 25-11, 22-25, 26-24 and 11-15 – in a hard fought area round match.

That left only the Cayuga Lady Wildcats, the Centerville Lady Tigers and Oakwood Lady Panthers as the postseason moved into the second week of play.

After they defeated the High Island Lady Cardinals in the area round, the Oakwood Lady Panthers took on the Chester Lady Yellow Jackets in the Regional Quarterfinals on Monday, Nov. 7. The game was held in Lovelady, but the Lady Panthers fell in three sets – 25-20, 25-15 and 25-17 – to bring their season to a close.

The Centerville Lady Tigers defeated the Kerns Lady Bobcats in the Bi-District round in straight sets and followed that up with a straight sets win over the Sabine Pass Lady Sharks. In the Regional Quarterfinals, however they ran into the Evadale Lady Rebels and fell in four sets – 20-25, 25-22, 8-25 and 22-25 – to bring their season to a close.

The Cayuga Lady Wildcats had moved as high as #5 in the Texas Girls’ Coaches Association poll on Nov. 7 and had defeated the Normangee Lady Panthers in four sets to capture the Bi-District Championship. They followed that up with a straight sets win over the Deweyville Lady Pirates in the Area round.

Waiting for the Lady Wildcats in the Regional Quarterfinals, however, was the number one ranked team in Class 2A – the Iola Lady Bulldogs. Iola had been ranked as the number one team in Class 2A all season and while some felt there may be an upset, it never materialized. The Lady Bulldogs showed why they were ranked atop the polls all year and took down the Lady Wildcats in straight sets – 25-16, 25-20 and 25-17.

Will Johnson may be reached via e-mail at [email protected]