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E-mail This StoryFLOWER MOUND n For the Lewisville volleyball team, it was like hitting a brick wall Tuesday. Twice.
The Farmers hurt themselves in the District 6-5A playoff race with a three-game loss to Marcus in a match Lewisville appeared to have in control on multiple occasions.
Marcus’ 25-16, 25-21, 25-13 win over the Farmers dropped Lewisville to 1-3 (19-7 overall) and keeps the team in a tie for fifth place with Carrollton Creekview. Marcus (24-8, 4-0) remains tied for first place with Coppell.
But in the early parts of the first two games, it looked like Lewisville was destined for a much better outcome. In Game 1, the Farmers jumped out to an early advantage, leading by as much as five at 8-3 and 9-4. They clung to a lead until four straight points from Marcus, that included two kills from Emily Maher, put Marcus ahead, 14-12. Lewisville never led in the game after that, and six-point run, capped by three straight aces from Jenna Miller, all but sealed the game at 21-13.
Early in the game, Lewisville used solid net play from LaKendra Sanders as she slammed down three kills for Lewisville’s first five points. She had six in the game, and Sasha Ladipo had three.
Lewisville tried again in the second game as it jumped out to a 6-1 lead and stretched it to 12-4. Sanders had two kills in that run, but the Farmers mostly took advantage of Marcus mistakes.
“Early on, we played well in our serve receive, and we had some good defense and good blocks,” coach Jay Samide said.
The Lady Marauders rallied, though, and a six-point tied the game at 17. Ladipo’s kill gave Lewisville one more lead, but Marcus scored six straight to lead, 23-18. Maher and Lyndi Johnson each had two kills in the streak.
“We made mistakes, and we let down on our serve receive,” Samide said on the collapse in the first two games. “They started getting aggressive with their serving, and we didn’t step up to the challenge.”
Marcus rolled in Game 3, scoring the game’s first nine points. Lewisville pulled the deficit to seven but never less than that. Miller and Maher combined for 10 kills in the game.
“They’re a good team, and they fought for every point,” Samide said. “They won’t let up, and you have to play every point with them.”
For the match, Sanders led Lewisville with 11 kills, and Lindy Luleff had nine. Marcus was led by Maher’s 15 kills and Brittany Deweese’s eight.
