Lady Titans fall, focus on rebuilding team’s culture

Tuesday night’s final score between the Port Arthur Memorial Lady Titans and Channelview Lady Falcons was very one-sided, but coach Bianca Dixon knows the reason.

The Lady Titans have talent on the team. The talent, though, is very young. Memorial is loaded with players who do not get the work a lot of other players in District 21-6A get in the summer and spring.

Channelview swept Memorial on Tuesday to send the Lady Titans to 0-8 in the league standings.

The Lady Falcons won the match 25-11, 25-6 and 25-6.

“We are inexperienced but we are still trying to compete,” Dixon said. “This is a real growing year, and I know a lot of coaches say that, but this really is one for us.”

Memorial’s inexperience showed right from the start Tuesday. There were a lot of hitting errors that lead directly to Channelview’s victories.

Channelview’s Ebony Smith had three aces during a 6-0 run in Game 1 to spread out the lead to 16-5.

The Lady Falcons led 18-6 in Game 2 when Darrah Moore came up to serve. She struck for eight straight points to put the game away.

Memorial had six

hitting errors in the run, five in a row. The final point came on a Moore ace.

Channelview put the match away in Game 3 as Smith hit for seven straight points and the Lady Falcons gained a 17-2 lead.

Deanna Trahan led the Lady Titans with four kills while Antonirria Beasley had a team-high four assists.

Karson Ruiz led Channelview with 15 assists while Moore added 11 kills and Smith finished with six.

“I don’t think we are having any fun because it is hard to say we are having fun and losing,” Dixon said. “They are still trying. They are still trying to compete.

“This district is very tough. Those kids (Lady Falcons) play year round. It is pretty tough.”

Even through the struggles, Dixon has a goal in mind for the Memorial volleyball program.

“The biggest thing we are trying to instill is the knowledge they can still do it,” Dixon said. “They have the right to win. We are trying to change the whole tradition of the program, not just rebuilding this team. We are trying to change the entire tradition.”

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