Seventh-grade 'A' netters take district championship

The seventh grade "A" team from Whitehouse are the district champions. The girls competed with teams from Hallsville, Jacksonville, Marshall and Pine Tree at the district tournament. Pictured, left to right, are (bottom) Ashleigh Crone, Hannah Smith, Marci Anderson, Angela Knight, Amy Enlow, Anna Hayden, (top) Torrie Maae, Kelsie Fairbanks, Cindy Scott, Haley Rome, Kelsey Lea and Leslie Seal.

The seventh grade "A" team, victorious over four participating district teams, is the district champion.

The first year of seventh grade volleyball in District 12-4A has been one for the record books for Whitehouse.

With only five teams in the district playing seventh grade -- Whitehouse, Hallsville, Jacksonville, Marshall, and Pine Tree -- games are few and far between. Jacksonville wasn't on the original schedule but opted in during the season. The Whitehouse girls have only played two district games before going in to the district tournament held at Pine Tree this past Saturday.

The "A" team began the tournament playing Marshall who they had beaten last Monday in two games of 25-1 and 25-9.

"I told the girls that they need to enter each game with the belief that this is a new team. In sports every time you play some one they are a different team just as we are a different team in each game we play," said Coach Knight.

Although the Ladycats beat the Lady Mavericks it proved to be different teams showing up for play in a two game sweep of 25-22 and 25-17.

Standouts for these games were Haley Rome with 21 service points and 6 aces, Ashleigh Crone 9 and 4, and Amy Enlow with 8 and 3.

The second match of the tournament put the Ladycats against the Maidens of Jacksonville. In two straight wins both with scores of 25-16, the standouts were Kelsie Fairbanks with 17 service points and 8 aces, Leslie Seal, 8 and 3, and Haley Rome with 7 and 2.

Competition against district rival Hallsville proved to be fierce. The beginning of each game was nearly point for point until the Ladycats pulled out front and took both games 25-16 and 25-17.

High point scorers for these games were Haley Rome with 12 service points and 5 aces, Angela Knight with 11 and 3, and Kelsie Fairbanks with 6 and 3.

The final game of the round robin tournament wound up in true tournament fashion to be the championship game.

Both the Whitehouse Ladycats and the Pine Tree Lady Pirates were undefeated in tournament play. The Ladycats were down quick 0-5 after the first server for the Lady Pirates. This deficit would not keep them down as they were soon tying up the game point for point once again until the Ladycats sprang ahead to win 25-15 and 25-18.

The standouts for this final game of the tournament were Angela Knight with 16 service points and 5 aces, Haley Rome, 8 and 2, Hannah Smith and Leslie Seal both with 5 and 2, and Torrie Maae with 4 and 2.

The "B" team girls fought hard for their district championship also.

Beating Marshall in the first match with scores of 25-13 and 25-20, the standout players were Bailey Riddle with 10 ser vice points, Deidre Grider with 8, Payton Hightower 6, and Raven Hill and Katherine Weathers both with 5.

Jacksonville proved to be a stronger opponent in their match but the Ladycats pulled through to win in 3 games with scores of 25- 22, 27-29 and 25-20. High point scorers for this match were Bailey Riddle and Bailee Brown with 11 service points each, Deidre Grider and Brooke Meyer with 10 each and Holly Moran with 8 ser vice points.

In the third match of the day the Ladycats couldn't hang on to the power of the Hallsville Ladycats and were beaten 20-25 and 21-25. Top scorers for this match were Raven Hill with 8 service points, Holly Moran 5, and Brooke Meyer, Bailey Riddle and Katherine Weathers all with 4 points each.

They made it to the final game with only the one loss to Hallsville. Playing Pine Tree for the final game pinned the undefeated Lady Pirates against the Ladycats with one loss.

This game was vital to determine the winner as a Ladycat win would give both teams the same record and the winner would be determined by points allowed.

The Lady Pirates won the first game 21-25 and the Ladycats came back to win the second game 25-15 which put the teams in a tie-breaking game. The junior high Ladycats pulled out at 25-20 win over Pine Tree for the match.

The district championship was settled by points allowed which put the Ladycats placing second.

"I'm proud of my team, beating Pine Tree and giving them their only loss was a good enough win ," said Coach Parker.

The standouts for this final game were Bailey Riddle with 17 service points, Brooke Meyer and Holly Moran both with 10, Raven Hill with 9 and Erin Strickland with 5 service points.

"It was an exciting day for all of us, the girls and coaches. It's so exciting bringing back the very first 7th grade district championship trophy for Whitehouse. I'm proud of all the girls on both teams. They play well together and are just good kids. I can't wait to see what's in store for them next year," said Coach Knight.

The last game of the district will be back at Pine Tree on Monday, Oct. 29. It should prove to be a tough night with Pine Tree vying to get a win from Whitehouse.