VOLLEYBALL: The Woodlands strikes back, sweeps College Park 3-0

THE WOODLANDS, Texas — The atmosphere was electric on Dig Pink night between the Lady Highlanders and the Lady Cavaliers. Both sides wore pink in support of breast cancer awareness and touted loud student sections. By the end of the evening, The Lady Highlanders swept College Park 25-14, 25-23, 25-23 in their second round of district matches and they now stand at the top of their district with a 7-1 record.

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The Woodlands had lost to College Park in their first round of district matches and came back with vengeance and confidence. They quickly set the mood for the match in the first set when they won 25-14, but College Park came back and stepped up their momentum with neck-and-neck battles, but fell 25-23 in the final two sets.

“I think in the first set we got a lot of intensity because we felt like we shut down their offense, but we knew that wouldn’t be long and that they were going to get it back and that Kennedi was going to step up, and she was going to bring more offense,” The Woodlands Head Coach Terri Wade said. “Even the rest of the match we did not want to let up because we knew we couldn’t count on that the entire game.”

Leading the Lady Highlanders with nine kills was senior outside hitter and defensive specialist, Hailey Reier, who stood ready to respond to whatever College Park handed the team.

“Her game compared to the first time we played [College Park], she really stepped up,” Wade said. “She was a person that we counted on, and when we were out of system, we knew she was going to put it away. I felt like she even lead in passing, defense and offense. She was just on all around.”

More than anything, Wade said her team came back with confidence and were mentally prepared for the match.

“We were lacking confidence when we played them the first time, and today we really mentally prepared for everything,” Wade said. “We expected everything that happened. We were never surprised on the court. We studied the team, and they just came in with confidence, and they’re unstoppable when they believe in themselves.”

The Lady Highalanders still have two tough matches left in their second round of district against Oak Ridge and Kingwood. The Woodlands will play at Oak Ridge Tuesday, October 20 at 5:30 p.m.

“I think everybody changes, especially us, so I’ll speak for my team, and I feel like we’re going to get better,” Wade said. “They’re getting better as we go, and my team is actually playing better together, and I know other teams are going to do that too.”