Neither Port Neches-Groves nor Crosby planned to go away quietly.

Already meeting for the third time this season, the two teams split the first two sets before PNG closed out the last two in Tuesday’s UIL 5A bi-district playoff at Sam Rayburn High in Pasadena. The Rock-A-Noos took a 26-24, 20-25, 25-19, 25-17 win and will take on Richmond Foster, a 25-8, 25-6, 25-7 winner over Houston Madison.

A date and location for the area round match has not yet been announced.

PNG (33-6) having its most wins on the season since earning 34 wins in 2012, got 17 kills from Kaitlyn Gil and 10 from Liz Bolyard. Layla Stansbury added nine and Maylin Louvier had four.

Holly Jones dished out 26 assists for the Indians, with Harlee Barnwell making six.

Louvier (six aces) and Kasidee Sartin (two) were successful on the serve with 13 points apiece. Halley Smith served 11 points (four aces) and Jones had nine service points (one ace).

Defensively, PNG was balanced with 14 digs each by Bayja Newby and Smith and 13 apiece for Gil and Sartin. Louvier blocked two attacks, and Gil had one.

Also Tuesday, Orangefield defeated Diboll 25-27, 25-19, 25-23, 25-17 in a 3A bi-district battle and will play Anderson-Shiro next.

On Monday, Hamshire-Fannett swept Liberty 25-20, 25-13, 25-21 in a 4A bi-district match and will take on Columbia in the area round. The dates and sites for Orangefield vs. Anderson-Shiro and Hamshire-Fannett vs. Columbia are not yet announced.
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— I.C. Murrell