Serving again turns tide for Lady Jackets

Posted 9/9/21

Once again, it was a Kenleigh Aguirre service turn which changed the momentum for the Lady Jackets. 

After dropping the first set in Friday’s match to the Wills Point Lady Tigers, …

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Serving again turns tide for Lady Jackets

Posted

Once again, it was a Kenleigh Aguirre service turn which changed the momentum for the Lady Jackets. 

After dropping the first set in Friday’s match to the Wills Point Lady Tigers, 25-20, Mineola was struggling to keep up with an organized Lady Tiger attack. Midway through the second set, the Lady Jackets were down by a point, 12-11, when Aguirre headed to the backline. 

Her services produced a six-point run for the home side and put them on a glide path to victory. Her first serve went for an ace, while four of the next five forced Wills Point mis-hits. Jocelyn Whitehead added a kill to extend the rally.

The Lady Jackets never looked back. They maintained the advantage to take the second set, 25-19. 

The third set featured the best volleyball the Lady Jackets have played this year. Their play was confident and fluid.  

They won the third set, 25-19, leading by as much as 10 points by mid-set and retaining a comfortable lead throughout. Perhaps the most telling perspective of the third set was that Mineola did not give away points easily. They suffered only nine “giveaways” – mis-hits, service errors and technical errors.

Mineola also played within the game. The official called a very tight match when it came to double-touches. Both sides were whistled for the infraction. However, while Wills Point allowed the rulings to build frustration within their squad, the Lady Jackets simply adjusted their play. It was rewarding to watch. 

Wills Point came out aggressively in the fourth set. They quickly built a five-point lead. The Jackets maintained their composure. An Olivia Hughes kill and a Kloey Garcia drop kept the Lady Jackets moving forward. Gracie Finley then tied the score at 12 with a cross-court kill from the left wing.

The set was tied at 14 and again at 17. A six-point run highlighted by three Whitehead kills assured the set and match wins. 

Most satisfying for Lady Jacket fans was the teamwork demonstrated against Wills Point. There were no points given up by the Lady Jackets due to miscommunication in the entire 176-point match. 

After visiting Athens (Sept. 7) and Mabank (Sept. 14), the Lady Jackets will next be at home on Friday Sept. 17.  That varsity match, against Canton, will commence at 4:30 p.m.