The Lady Cats’ volleyball team opened the regular season with a rare win over North Lamar and a five-set loss to Sherman at home Tuesday.
The Lady Cats defeated North Lamar, 3-0. It was the Lady Cats first victory over the Pantherettes since October 1, 2005. John McCullough, the current North Lamar superintendent, was then the Lady Cats Head Coach. Tuesday the Lady Cats jumped out to a 5-0 lead against North Lamar in set one. After the match tightened up, Kaylee Jefferson had five successful serves for points to stretch the Lady Cats lead to 19-10. The Lady Cats won the first set 25-17. The second set went back and forth. The Lady Cats scored the set’s final two points to take a 25-23 win. The Lady Cats then pulled away late in the third set to take the set and the match, 25-19. Lady Cats Coach Justin Maness called the victory a sweet one. He singled out Mieke VanBenthem, Erika VanBenthem and Kaylee Jefferson.
Against Sherman, the Lady Cats almost snatched victory from the jaws of defeat. At first, the Lady Cats got off to a strong start scoring the matches first four points. They got some key points late and took a 25-22 win in set one. Then a good Sherman team, loaded with volleyball club players, seized the momentum in a big way. It started with the team’s tied 17-17 in set two. Sherman ended up with a 25-19 win to even the match at 1 set apiece. The Lady Bearcats continued to play well getting a 25-14 win in set three. In set four, the Lady Bearcats appeared poised to take the set and the match. They led 21-14 and needed just four more points. Then Autumn Tanton began to serve for the Lady Cats. She had ten straight successful serves as the Lady Cats scored the set’s last 11 points to take an unlikely 25-21 win. Both teams now had two sets apiece. Sherman returned to their dominating ways in set five taking the set and the match with a 15-9 win. Coach Maness said he was impressed with the play of Tanton, Lexie Whisenhunt and Kaylee Jefferson.
The Lady Cats have had only two practice days so far. They will double that with practice sessions Wednesday and Thursday. The Lady Cats play next in a Garland tournament Friday and Saturday. Their pool includes South Garland, Mesquite Horn and Carrollton Newman Smith.
