Lady Jackets grab five-game win over Chapel Hill

Posted 10/14/21

During senior night festivities before the match against Mount Pleasant Chapel Hill, Mineola Lady Jacket senior Kenleigh Aguirre thanked Mineola for welcoming her to the school, even though she spent …

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Lady Jackets grab five-game win over Chapel Hill

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During senior night festivities before the match against Mount Pleasant Chapel Hill, Mineola Lady Jacket senior Kenleigh Aguirre thanked Mineola for welcoming her to the school, even though she spent most of her school years in Lindale. She then proceeded to record 30 digs in a five-set win over the visiting Lady Devils.

Aguirre was not the only Lady Jacket who had an excellent match. Kozbie Riley broke a 24-24 tie in the second game with a great block. She also had the winning match point with a strong kill from the right side. 

Mineola established some consistency and took a steady strain throughout the match. Offensively, Olivia Hughes had a strong night, as did Gracie Finley. The two worked well, picking one another up by scoring when the other happened to go cold at the net. Mylee Fischer continued to play her typical active role in the center of most of the action.   

The win was a bit of vindication for the Lady Jackets. They never trailed in the first match. Mineola attacked. Hughes and Finley were joined by Audrey Smith and Jocelyn Whitehead in registering scores in game one. Three aces by Madison Bloodworth and an ace by Aguirre provided timely surges in Mineola’s scorecard. They took the set 25-17.

Chapel Hill scrambled hard in the second set. Mineola came from behind twice to tie the game at 7 and again at 14. A nice sequence of a Hughes block, an Aguirre ace, a Hughes kill and a Bloodworth ace gave Mineola the edge. 

The Lady Devils clawed back to tie the game at 24 – setting up Riley for her emphatic block. Mineola took game two 26-24.

Chapel Hill dominated the third set, and as volleyball fans appreciate, the momentum had clearly shifted. They won game three 25-19. 

The Lady Devil dominance continued in the fourth set. Mineola fought hard to tie the game at 11 after being down by as much as five points early in the set. Aguirre’s excellent service led to a forced error by Chapel Hill and knotted the score. The Lady Devils then ripped off ten points in a row to kill Mineola’s comeback and take game four, 25-15.

The Lady Jackets simply played with more energy and heart in the final set. They led throughout and secured the match with a 15-9 score. Eight of the 15 Mineola points in the final set were offensive scores (including a Kloey Garcia ace). That created a confidence in their play which assured victory. 

The Lady Jackets have suffered some tough matches so far this year, but successive wins over Winona and Chapel Hill have given them renewed poise. They are having fun, and that usually translates well in district volleyball action. 

After hosting Mt Vernon last Friday and traveling to Quitman on Tuesday, the Lady Jackets look to even their tally against Harmony on Friday. Varsity game time is 4:30 p.m.