Senior Lady War Eagle Victoria Harris 'ecstatic' after win over Lady Highlanders

THE WOODLANDS, Texas- Victoria Harris has accomplished a lot of things in four years of playing volleyball at Oak Ridge High School.

But she and the rest of the Lady War Eagles had never beaten The Woodlands until Tuesday night.

“We had never even won a game off of them,’’ said the ecstatic Harris after leading the Lady War Eagles to a stunning 25-21, 25-14, 21-25, 25-20 victory over the Lady Highlanders at Oak Ridge High School.

“They had smashed us every time we played,’’ added the 5-foot-10 Harris, who has signed with the University of Cincinnati. “We definitely had something to prove.’’

From the very first point, the Lady War Eagles outhit, out blocked, out-served and outhustled the Lady Highlanders in front of their boisterous home crowd.

Harris and fellow outside hitter Brooke Clark, who is only a sophomore, took perfect sets from Jackie Ward and freshman Carly Graham and pounded away at the Lady Highlanders’ usually impenetrable front line.

“Our setters were fantastic,’’ Harris said. “She (Ward) is going to Sam Houston (State University) to play volleyball.’’

The Woodlands, as they did during Harris’ freshman, sophomore and junior years, beat the Lady War Eagles in three games the first time the two teams met this year.

That, and Oak Ridge’s tough four-game loss to Kingwood, had all-but-clinched the district title for the Lady Highlanders (10-1 in District 16-6A) entering the match.

“We were missing our No. 1 Libero (against Kingwood),’’ Harris said, “but give them credit. They played an excellent game against us.’’

The Lady War Eagles (29-5 overall and 9-2 in District 16- 6A play) did the same against the Lady Highlanders. At times, it looked like Oak Ridge was playing with seven players on the court as it routinely came up with unbelievable digs to keep alive and eventually win long rallies.

“I think they might have overlooked us a little bit,’’ Harris said. “But we came out ready to go. I know everybody really wanted this win.’’

The Lady War Eagles also had a special plan for The Woodlands’ 6-2 middle hitter Rachel Reed, who has signed with the University of Southern California.

“I played her on the front line and we always tried to have a double block (on her),’’ Harris said. “You can’t really stop a player like Rachel. But we tried to slow her down as much as we could.’’

Oak Ridge, which has clinched second place in the 16-6A standings, will conclude the regular season at Summer Creek on Tuesday, Oct. 28. It then will move into the Region II-5A playoffs.

“I think we can go two or three rounds for sure,’’ Harris said of the Lady War Eagles’ playoff chances.

If all falls right, Oak Ridge could meet The Woodlands again in the Region II-5A championship match.

“That would be something,’’ Harris said. “I would love that. But right now, I am going to savor this victory."

“This really means a lot,’’ she added. “Beating them my senior year, after losing to them three years in a row, is really, really special.’’

Harris said she fell in love with Cincinnati the minute she stepped on campus.

“There were a few local schools (I also was looking at),’’ she said. “But I knew Cincinnati was the place for me. I loved the school and the coaches.’’