For much of 2012, the success of the Palestine volleyball team — and there has been quite a bit of it — has hinged on the offensive prowess of outside hitter Dana Whitehead.
Tuesday, during a special night at Palestine High School, the Ladycats showed that that doesn’t always have to be the case.
In front of a big crowd on hand for the dedication of the new “competition” gym at the new school, the Ladycats swept Grapeland, 3-0 (25-17, 25-20, 25-11), getting at least three kills from four different players.
“We’ve been trying to move the ball around more, because everybody is going to start keying in on Dana and triple-blocking her,” PHS coach Lisa Hampton said. “So, we’ve got to move the ball around more.”
Whitehead still led the way for the Ladycats, tallying 14 for herself. But, there was more to the attack this time.
Karisma Smith had six kills, including three in the final game, while both Arion Sandifer and Hallie Smith had three.
The match was the first for Palestine for Hallie Smith, a move-in from Oakwood. Hampton said she couldn’t have been happier with her debut.
“She was a little nervous at first,” Hampton said. “But, when she gets into the groove, she’ll be fine.”
Grapeland had its chances in the match, especially early on. The Sandiettes held leads in both Game 1 and 2, but could hold neither as Palestine came back in each instance.
A young team without two of its established starters during the match, Grapeland is still a team in growth-mode, GHS first-year coach Teri Frauenberger said.
“I think they had the mentality that they didn’t know how to keep up with the momentum,” she said. “They’re new at it.”
Both Terrika Campbell and Jayde Westbrook didn’t play in the match.
In Game 1, Grapeland took its lead at 13-11, after Palestine had held a slight edge for most of the match.
But, the Ladycats answered, going on a 13-2 run that took the match to 24-15 in Palestine’s favor. Most of those points came with Whitehead at the serving line.
In Game 2, the play was back-and-forth, with Grapeland holding its biggest lead at 13-10.
A Sandiette error tied the game at 15, and the Ladycats never looked back. Palestine closed on a 10-5 run to capture Game 2 and take any momentum left on the Sandiettes’ side.
Palestine returns to action Friday, when it hosts Jacksonville. Play begins with subvarsity action at 4 p.m.
Grapeland won’t return to action until its district opener, Sept. 21 at home against Kennard.
WESTWOOD 3, Mabank 2
WESTWOOD 3, Mildred 0
The Westwood volleyball team swept a dual Tuesday against Mabank and Mildred.
The Lady Panthers fell behind 2-0 against Mabank before winning the final three games to take the match, 3-2 (21-25, 22-25, 25-16, 25-21, 15-8).
In the night’s finale, Westwood made quick work of Mildred, 3-0 (26-24, 25-15, 25-20).
In the finale, Mi’Kayla Benson had a double-double with 13 kills and 18 digs, while Natali Muniz had six kills and 14 digs.
Marialle Boles also had six kills, while Markeisha Durham had five kills.
Neeli Hardison led Westwood with 17 assists while Lacey Wooden had a team-high 22 digs.
The Lady Panthers return to action at 10 a.m. Thursday, when they open up pool play in the Brownsboro tournament.
———
Coaches or team representatives are encouraged to call in scores and stats to 903-729-0281 ext. 242 by 9 p.m. after games, or to email sports@palestineherald.com
Local Sports
H.S. Volleyball: Balanced attack leads Palestine over Grapeland
- Local Sports
-
-
H.S. Football: Palestine's Owens leads strong class of area recruits
Palestine junior Jarrell Owens hasn’t ever played a significant down in a game for the Wildcats at linebacker in his football career.
Yet, the position is obviously where his future lies.
Owens is one of a handful of area juniors drawing significant college interest, and the Palestine running back/linebacker already holds an official offer from Texas Tech University. -
H.S. Baseball Playoffs: Harleton shuts down Cayuga in regional quarterfinal
In an as-expected pitcher’s duel, it took only one off inning to cost Cayuga and ace Chantz Holland.
Holland gave up four hits and hit a batter in the top of the third inning, and Harleton turned that into four runs — the only runs of the game — as Harleton topped Cayuga, 4-0, here at the Lindale ISD Baseball and Softball Complex in regional quarterfinal action. -
H.S. Baseball: Patchwork lineup still working for Cayuga
The Cayuga baseball team that will take the field tonight against Harleton in the regional quarterfinals doesn’t look a lot like the Cayuga team that rolled through district play earlier this season.
Injuries have hampered the look of the Wildcat lineup, but Cayuga still finds itself into the playoffs’ third round for yet another season. -
H.S. Softball: Grapeland going strong into regional semifinals
It’s been relatively easy-going so far in the state softball playoffs for the Grapeland softball team.
The Sandiettes have lost only once so far in the playoffs, and that came thanks a forfeit in the area round against Avery, when Grapeland decided not to play rather than play without missing members at the state golf tournament. -
Local Roundup: Cayuga's Hughes named 19-A MVP
After a stellar regular season that saw them capture a district title, then a solid playoff run that ended with a regional quarterfinal loss to Grapeland, the Cayuga softball team showed well on the District 19-A all-district teams.
Cayuga star freshman pitcher Kimberly Hughes capped her stellar year by earning the district’s Most Valuable Player award. Joining Hughes in earning superlative honors was her battery-mate Maci Poland, who was named the league’s Defensive MVP. -
H.S. Golf State Tournament: Grapeland looks to cap impressive season with title
It’s the course on which legendary PGA player Ben Crenshaw — winner of two Master’s Green Jackets — learned the game as a young man.
It’s where legendary Austin-based golf coach Harvey Penick molded players like Crenshaw and Tom Kite into stalwarts on the professional tours.
A year ago, Lions Municipal Golf Course in Austin was the place where, despite improving by 20 strokes as a team on Day 2, the Grapeland girls’ golf team fell short of state title, instead finishing second — for the second-straight season. -
H.S. Baseball: Palestine, Elkhart open playoffs Thursday
After a seven-year absence from postseason play that ended last year, the Palestine baseball team opens up its second-straight playoff campaign Tuesday.
The Wildcats, who captured District 19-3A’s second seed with a defeat of Fairfield Friday, will open the postseason again Diboll in a best-of-three series. -
H.S. Softball Playoffs: Bruner's 2 HRs lead Grapeland past Cross Roads
Grapeland senior Shelby Bruner hadn’t hit a home run all season for the Sandiettes.
She picked a good time to find a power-boost.
Bruner hit not one but two home runs, Baylee Lumbreraz struck out 15 and the Grapeland softball team rolled to a 14-1 victory over Cross Roads to open the playoffs Monday at Palestine High School. -
H.S. Tennis: Neches' Wade ready for more state glory
The spring semester is a busy one for plenty of high school athletes in the area.
The spring has a higher concentration of sports going on, plus there are state tests, prom and other extra-curricular activities in the works.
That has been the case for Neches junior Kelsee Wade, who this semester alone has played basketball, softball and tennis, and thrown the discus, as well as taken tests and worked with her animals for the Anderson County Youth Livestock Show.
Oh, and she’s also the No. 1-ranked student in the Neches’ Class of 2014. -
H.S. Softball: Walk-off hit ends Neches' season
For four solid innings, the Neches softball team looked primed to move on to the area round of the playoffs.
Then, things fell apart in the final three.
With their bi-district playoff game against Lovelady tied 3-3 heading into the bottom of the seventh, Neches allowed a two-out single to Beth Thompson, a hit which scored Baylee Mikes to hand the playoff win to the Lady Lions, 4-3. - More Local Sports Headlines
-
H.S. Football: Palestine's Owens leads strong class of area recruits
Conn. Commuter Trains Collide; 60 Go to Hospital
Coffee Run Leads to Hatchet Hitchhiker Arrest
Fmr. IRS Head Insists No Politics in Targeting
CDC: Fecal Bacteria Common in Swimming Pools
$1 Million in Jewels Stolen at Cannes Film Fest
NM Mom Chases Down Child Abductor
Raw: Crash Sends Car Into Fla. Pool
Raw: Obama Sits Down With Elementary Kids
Raw: Bear Falls From Tampa Tree
Ousted IRS Chief: Errors Not Caused by Politics
Terror Suspect Due in Court in Idaho Friday
Raw: Driver Ejected From Truck, Over Bridge
Could Tobacco Be the Next Biofuel?
Wash. State Releases Draft Rules for Legal Pot
Dying Man's Blinks Lead to Murder Conviction
Officials: Texas Tornado Likely Had 200 Mph Wind
Brothers Arrested in NOLA Parade Shooting
Raw: School Bus Crash Injures Five Children
Quick Response Saved Baby on Phila. Train Tracks
One Million Evacuated As Cyclone Hits Bangladesh
