LADY CATS FALL IN FOUR SETS AT BROWNFIELD

The Littlefield Lady Cats’ varsity volleyball team fell on the road on Saturday to the Brownfield Lady Cubs, 1-3.

With the loss, the Lady Cats fall to 4-2 in district play.

Senior, Brynna Ray, opened set one for Littlefield and a hit by senior, Emily Champion, was hit out of bounds by Lindsey Herrea. The Lady Cubs would respond on the next play, as senior, Ashtyn Parker, was blocked by Deja Johnson and Gabi Fields for a kill to tie the set, 1-1.

Brianne Franco sent a kill out of bounds for Brownfield and a long break on the next play by Herrera, off of the serve from senior, Julie Rodriguez, was killed at the net by sophomore, Kyndal Edgemon, making the score, 3-1.

The Lady Cubs answered back with a kill, but on the following play, Meriah Gonzalez was called for touching the net on a tip, extending their lead to, 4-2. Gonzalez sent a hit sailing out of bounds on the next play for Brownfield, but a kill by Deja Johnson was dug out by sophomore, Kennadi Hanlin, but the ball floated back over the net and was killed by Gonzalez to cut the lead to, 5-3.

Gonzalez sent a kill sailing out of bounds on the next play, as Brownfield couldn’t capitalize, however, Littlefield would give the serve right back to the Lady Cubs, as senior, Danielle Zapata’s serve fell short of the net, making the score, 6-4.

Dabria Blackwell served up an ace in front of Hanlin and Tia Johnson followed it up with a kill off of the block attempt by juniors, Madison McNeese and Kaeleigh Logan to tie the set, 6-6. Logan tipped the net for a kill to put the Lady Cats back in front and the play sparked a rally for Littlefield.

Tia Johnson was blocked by McNeese for a kill and a kill by McNeese on the next play was tipped out of bounds by the Lady Cubs to make the score, 9-6. A hit by Logan was tipped out of bounds by Herrera, as the Lady Cubs took a time out to regroup.

Out of the break, Tia Johnson delivered a kill attempt that was dug out by Hanlin and a long break, gave Tia Johnson a second crack at it, but she was blocked by McNeese for a kill to stretch their lead to, 11-6. The rally, though, would end, when McNeese sent a kill sailing out of bounds, making the score, 11-7.

Brownfield’s struggles continued, as Gonzalez sent her serve short of the net, but Littlefield couldn’t do anything with it, as McNeese, too, sent a serve that fell short of the net, making the score, 12-8. Brownfield would rally for three points to cut the lead to, 12-11, before Tia Johnson served the ball out of bounds, pushing it back out to, 13-11.

Brownfield would tie it up two plays later on miscues by the Lady Cats, and they took the lead on a kill by Deja Johnson, making the score, 13-14. Littlefield took a time out to try and freeze the Lady Cubs, but out of the break, Deja delivered a kill off of the block attempt by sophomore, Julie Bownds.

However, Blackwell’s kill attempt on the next play landed out of bounds, making the score, 14- 15. A few plays later, Brownfield would extend their lead to, five points, after a hit by McNeese hit the roof, making the score, 14-19. Franco’s serve sailed out of bounds for the Lady Cubs to end the rally and Edgemon followed it up with a kill off of the block attempt by Deja Johnson and Blackwell, cutting the lead to, 16- 19.

Deja Johnson sent back-to-back returns out of bounds off of the serves from Hanlin, but on the following play, a hit from Deja Johnson was hit into the net by Ray, making the score, 18-20. Gonzalez sent a hit out of bounds for the Lady Cubs and Tia Johnson was called for touching the net on the next play, tying the set, 20-20.

Zapata’s serve was hit into the net by Gonzalez to give the Lady Cats a brief lead, but it was shortlived, as Blackwell sent a kill through the block attempt of McNeese and Edgemon to once again tie the set, 21-21. Fields sent a kill through the block attempt by McNeese to put Brownfield in front, 21-22.

Logan tied the set for the Lady cats, and McNeese delivered a kill that Jackie Castillo couldn’t dig to make the score, 23-22, as the Lady Cubs took a time out to talk things over. Out of the break, Tia Johnson was blocked by McNeese for a kill to make the score, 24-22. Senior, Gideon Bramwell, sent a

Senior, Gideon Bramwell, sent a hit into the net forcing a four-hits call on Littlefield, but Blackwell was called for a double hit on her set on the next play, giving Littlefield the set, 25-23.

Brownfield wasted no time in set two, taking the set, 11-25, to tie the match, 1-1. And, in set three the Lady Cubs took the set, 13-25, to take a, 1-2, lead in the match.

In set four, the teams went backand-forth to start things off, until a kill on the back row by Tia Johnson tied the set, 4-4. The play sparked a three-point rally, before Blackwell sent a serve sailing out of bounds, to make the score, 5-6. Littlefield would tie things up a few plays later, as Franco sent a hit into the net, making the score, 7-7.

Brownfield would lead by as many as seven points, before the Lady Cats began to mount a comeback. Edgemon sent a kill through the block attempt by Tia Johnson and Blackwell, making the score, 11-17. Tia Johnson had a kill dug out by Champion and it was tipped over by McNeese for a kill to cut the lead to, 12-18.

Logan delivered a kill, but the rally ended when Fields dropped in a tip that Champion couldn’t dig, making the score, 13-19. McNeese responded with a kill off of the block attempt by Tia Johnson and she followed it up with an ace off of Millie Castillo, before she sent her next serve out of bounds, making the score, 15-20.

The Lady Cubs couldn’t capitalize, as Tia Johnson sent a server out of bounds and Fields followed it up with a kill that landed out of bounds, trimming the lead to, 17- 20. A long break, by Fields, off of the serve from Ray, was killed by Bownds to make it a two-point game, 18-20.

The Lady Cubs took a time out and out of the break, McNeese sent a hit into the net, but the Lady Cats would respond, as a kill by Parker was tipped at the net by Deja Johnson, before falling in for a kill to make the score, 19-21.

Brownfield had a hit fall in for a kill, as Ray couldn’t play a ball at the net, however, Jackie Castillo sent her next serve short of the net, cutting the lead to, 20-22. Brownfield scored back-to-back kills by Deja Johnson and Gabby Gonzalez, before, Blackwell sent a shot sailing out of bounds, making the score, 21-24.

The Lady Cubs closed out the set on the next play, as McNeese sent a kill out of bounds to end the set, as the Lady Cats’ comeback efforts fell short, 21-25.

The Lady Cats hosted Lamesa on Tuesday for senior night. Results were not available at press time. They will continue district play on Saturday with a home game against Denver City.

First set is scheduled for noon.