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Oak Ridge Lady War Eagles volleyball continues hot streak, cruise over Klein Oak

By: Jason Halpert, WOL Sports
| Published 08/26/2014

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THE WOODLANDS, Texas- School is back in session, but that didn’t slow the Oak Ridge Lady War Eagles (16-3) from upending the Klein Oak Panthers (6-6) Tuesday night in their home gym by scores of 25-14, 27-25, 25-15. After going 8-1 last week, including a 7-1 tally in the Magnolia Volley-Battle tournament, Oak Ridge is confident the start to the school year may be the start of something special.

“Well, they’re a little tired (with school underway), but they are pushing through,” said head coach Tommie Lynne Sledge. “We have definitely stepped it up from where we were this time last year.”

Leaders for the contest were Carly Graham with 20 digs and Raigen Cianciulli with 19 digs, and Jackie Ward with 16. Ward also led the team with six aces. Victoria Harris led with 15 kills for the contest.

The crowd was energized at the start of the game, and after the first point for Klein Oak, everything seemed to go Oak Ridge’s way. Brooke Clark stepped up and went on a six point serving spree, and after a kill by senior Victoria Harris, it forced a timeout by Klein Oak. The timeout didn’t help much, as Oak Ridge continued it’s hot start by taking an 8-1 lead. After a kill by senior Morgan McCoy to the center of the court, the score was 11-5, and Klein Oak never got closer. After two consecutive Harris serves were unreturned, the lead ballooned to 17-5 and Klein Oak had to call another timeout. This timeout didn’t change momentum, as Harris immediately served up another unreturned ball following the break. She continued to serve until the score was 19-5, and the first set appeared in hand. After an error by Klein Oak, the first set went to the Lady War Eagles 25-14.

“We’re just growing as a group, limiting the run of points,” said Sledge. “This group is doing a good job”

The second set, similar to the game against Tomball Memorial last Tuesday, saw Klein Oak pick up the pace and create a tight affair. The score went back and forth, and halfway through the contest, the score was tied at 12. Throughout the set no team had taken more than a two point lead and we were still deadlocked at 16-16. After a couple of breaks went Klein Oak’s way, the score gap increased to 18-16 Klein Oak, and the Lady War Eagles took a timeout to regain traction. The lead grew to 20-16 before Oak Ridge started to return the favor. A Brooke Clark tip made the score 21-18, followed by a serving spree by Clark brought Oak Ridge back to even the score at 21-21. A couple of strong kills by 6’0 senior Jamie Risdal of Klein Oak made the score 23-21, but Oak Ridge would come back. A smart quick flip to center court by freshman Carly Graham re-tied the score at 23-23. A kill by Victoria Harris made the set 25-24 Oak Ridge, and an excited crowd erupted as they wanted the set. However Klein Oak fought back and sent the game beyond the 25 point threshold. After a kill by Harris and a combo block by Morgan McCoy and Brooke Clark, the crowd erupted as Oak Ridge managed to wrangle the second set 27-25.

“We certainly have things we will continue to work on,” said Sledge. “Obviously we didn’t want the set to be that close, but we will look at the film and see how to improve.”

The third set started where the second left off. Both teams were scoring points with ease, and the game was again played within two points of each other until a 8-0 Oak Ridge run with Jackie Ward serving made the score 11-5. After an ace by Harris made the score 13-6, Oak Ridge appeared to have the contest in hand. After a tight second set, the third clearly had momentum back on the Lady Eagles side, and after a drop shot by Jackie Ward made the score 17-9, Oak Ridge was in charge of the set. After a kill by Brooke Clarke across court, the game ended 25-15 for the Lady War Eagles of Oak Ridge.

Oak Ridge will look to continue it’s hot streak at Tomball on September 2nd in the next contest, two weeks before district play starts on September 12th at Kingwood.

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