Oak Ridge rallies to spike Klein

CONROE, Texas - With the District 16-6A volleyball race just around the corner, most of the talk has centered on The Woodlands Highlanders and College Park Cavaliers.

The two schools have dominated the league for quite some time. And, they are expected to be in the thick of the race again this season, but this year, one would be mistaken not to include the Oak Ridge War Eagles in what could turn out to be quite a three-team battle for the conference crown.

The War Eagles, behind a towering front line and an up-and-coming star in 6-foot sophomore, Brooke Clark, improved to 20-3 with an impressive 14-25, 25-12, 25-20, 25-23 win over the fired-up Klein Bearkats Tuesday night at Oak Ridge High School. Klein dropped to 8-12 with the loss.

“I think we underestimated Klein a little bit (in the first game),’’ said Oak Ridge head coach Tommie Lynne Sledge. “We struggled with serve receive the whole match. But I am proud of the way the girls didn’t let it affect their emotions (on the court).’’

The first game see-sawed back and forth for the first 10 points before McCauley Fuller, Molly Francis, and Molly Russell, took turns pounding spikes over the much bigger Oak Ridge front line, as the Bearkats scored 10 of the next 11 points to grab a 20-11 lead.

Oak Ridge’s Lacye Meeley tried to rally the War Eagles with a couple of thundering kills, but it was too little, too late, as Klein rolled to the 11-point win.

The Lady War Eagles, however, returned the favor in the second game as Victoria Harris, Jackie Ward, and Clark,dominated play at the net to lead Oak Ridge to an easy 25-12 victory. Clark and Meeley also formed a great double block the entire match.

Oak Ridge looked like it might have to go five games to claim the victory after falling behind 8-1, 12-3, 13-4, 14-5 and 15-8 to start game three, but the Lady War Eagles, behind the play of Clark and fabulous freshman, Carly Graham, scored nine of the next 11 points to knot the game at 17.

Graham’s ace gave Oak Ridge a 22-18 lead, and Harris pounded home the game-winning kill to give Oak Ridge a two games to one advantage.

The fourth game went back and forth the entire contest before Clark, who was called in the net on the previous point, ripped a kill down the line to give Oak Ridge the match.

“Brooke is only a sophomore,’’ Sledge said. “That is the best thing about her (is that we have her for two more years).’’

Oak Ridge’s losses have come against state powers Trinity, San Angelo, and Cy Ranch. All three losses came in tournaments. The War Eagles also have a victory over Cy Ranch.

“Our district is outrageously tough,’’ Sledge said. “That is why I picked up some of these tougher teams. Every district game is going to be a battle. But that should really get us ready for the playoffs. It doesn’t matter which (playoff) spot we end up with.’’