VOLLEYBALL ROUNDUP: Titans steer out Longhorns in 5
Published 9:57 pm Tuesday, August 28, 2018
Staff report
Go ahead and say it: Memorial volleyball is on a roll.
The Titans are off to their best start through 20 matches in school history Tuesday after defeating tradition-rich Hamshire-Fannett 19-25, 25-20, 23-25, 25-19, 18-16 in front of a lively Port Arthur crowd.
“It was one of the biggest crowds we’ve had so far,” fifth-year coach Bianca Dixon said, her team now 15-5. “We’ve been getting a lot of support from our parents, but we’ve been getting so much support from students and fellow athletes, and that’s made our crowd so loud Tuesday.”
The Titans are taking another step forward in the program after going 14-7 this time last year, when Tropical Storm Harvey impacted Port Arthur. Still, they finished with a winning record.
“Our motto is why not us, and now, we’re living it,” Dixon said. “Why not us?”
The front net play of Korie Dominick and Diamond Newsome proved key to Memorial’s success Tuesday.
“There were a lot of plays that Hamshire-Fannett thought they would score on swings, and Korie and Diamond were able to make putbacks off those,” Dixon said.
Memorial hosts Bob Hope on Friday, its last non-district match before hosting Nederland next Tuesday in the 21-5A opener.
And if things continue to go this well for the Titans, they’ll clinch the first UIL playoff berth in school history. Memorial began its 17th year of existence this month.
“I’m happy where we are now, and I’m more happy about our possibilities and where we’re headed,” Dixon said.
PNG 3, Huffman 1
In Huffman, Port Neches-Groves avenged one of its only two losses on the season.
Liz Bolyard struck up 14 kills, Holly Jones dealt 18 assists, and the Rock-A-Noos beat Huffman 25-22, 15-25, 25-18, 25-23.
Kaitlyn Gil recorded a triple double with 10 kills, 11 service points (one ace) and 18 digs for the Indians (17-2), winners of eight in a row. Halley Smith dug 11 and served eight points (two aces), Maylin Louvier also had eight service points (one ace) and four kills, Bayja Newby had 17 digs to go with seven service points (one ace), and Layla Stansbury killed six and blocked two.
Jones dug seven, while Natalie Nelson and Harlee Barnwell each made five assists.
PNG will compete in the Santa Fe tournament Thursday and Saturday.
Nederland 3, Liberty 0
In Nederland, Meg Sheppard’s 13 kills and 10 digs led the Bulldogs’ 25-14, 25-17, 25-17 sweep of Liberty.
Destyn Miguez served three aces and totaled 21 digs. Jenna Jarrett had 24 assists, Hannah Hickey had nine kills and two blocks, Karley McGill made seven kills, three digs and a block and Brianna Olsen aced five for Nederland (9-11), which has won eight of its last nine.
The Bulldogs will host Hamshire-Fannett on Friday.