Sports > Schools
DISTRICT 12-5A VOLLEYBALL: Horn sweeps North Mesquite to tighten race for final playoff spot
By DEVIN HASSON, dhasson@starlocalnews.com
In their first head-to-head meeting of the district season, North Mesquite and Horn waged a lengthy back-and-forth battle that raged on for five games.
Finally, the Stallions were able to prevail in five games that gave them an early leg up in the 12-5A race.
With one half of the district season now under their belts, the two teams returned to the court on Tuesday with different stakes.
With Rockwall-Heath, Tyler Lee and Rockwall threatening to run away with the top three spots, that leaves just one playoff berth left to be fought among four teams who are tightly bunched.
The Jaguars entered Tuesday's match on the bottom end of that four-team group and their sense of urgency paid off as they rolled to a 25-15, 25-18, 25-18 victory over North Mesquite.
The two teams are now tied for fifth place at 2-5, one-half game behind Mesquite (2-4), which had a bye on Tuesday.
Horn followed the same road to success in each of the three games, taking control during the middle stages and then maintaining a comfortable lead until the end.
In the opener, Horn was clinging to a 7-6 lead when Terita Williamson had a kill and Jessica Kondikoff followed with a three-point serving run to open some breathing room at 11-6 and after another long run, it was suddenly 17-8.
North Mesquite tried to hang around and got back to within 20-13 on a point from Carisha Reed, but Abi Kilgore had an ace and Andi Spearman had two kills and an ace down the stretch as Horn closed out the 25-15 win.
North Mesquite grabbed the early lead in game two on an ace by Tuka Mickens, but it would be short-lived, as a three-point serving run by Rene Chidozie gave the Jaguars a 9-5 lead.
The Stallions continued to battle and a pair of service points from Chelsea Scudder tied it at 10-10, but Horn would reel off the next six points, again behind the serving of Kondikoff, to take control.
Emily Edwards had a pair of points and Vann Dunn had a block at the net to keep North Mesquite in it, but an ace from Chidozie and a pair of kills from Williamson helped the Jaguars take the second game, 25-18.
The third game was more of the same and the Jaguars closed in on the sweep when a pair of kills from Kilgore made it 19-11. The teams traded points until a small run by the Stallions got them to within 23-17, but that was as close as it would get, as Kondikoff and Williamson served the final two points to complete the victory.
Horn had wrapped up the first half of district play last Friday with a loss to Tyler Lee, while North Mesquite had a bye.
Mesquite had picked up a huge victory on Friday with a 25-17, 25-17, 25-20 win over Longview.
In addition to the race for fourth place, there are also battles at the top, although Rockwall-Heath was able to solidify its spot atop the standings with a 25-21, 25-6, 25-19 win over Tyler Lee.
The Hawks remain undefeated at 7-0, while the Red Raiders drop back into a tie for second place with Rockwall at 5-2.
While Mesquite enters this week with a slight lead for the final playoff spot, it has a tough road during the next few days as it must play at Rockwall-Heath and Rockwall.
North Mesquite faces a similar road with matches against Tyler Lee at home on Friday and Rockwall-Heath on Tuesday.
Horn will host Rockwall on Friday before enjoying its bye on Tuesday?
STANDINGS
Rockwall-Heath 7-0 26-7
Tyler Lee 5-2 26-10
Rockwall 5-2 13-9
Mesquite 2-4 8-18
North Mesquite 2-5 8-20
Horn 2-5 15-22
Longview 1-6 8-11
Tuesday's Results
Horn def. North Mesquite 25-15, 25-18, 25-18
Rockwall-Heath def. Tyler Lee 25-21, 25-6, 25-19
Rockwall def. Longview 25-18, 25-22, 25-14
Mesquite, bye
Friday's Results
Mesquite def. Longview 25-17, 25-17, 25-20
Tyler Lee def. Horn 25-13, 25-16, 25-18
Rockwall-Heath def. Rockwall 25-12, 25-14, 25-19
North Mesquite, bye
Friday's Games
Mesquite at Rockwall-Heath
Rockwall at Horn
Tyler Lee at North Mesquite
Longview, bye
Tuesday's Games
Rockwall-Heath at North Mesquite
Mesquite at Rockwall
Tyler Lee vs. Longview
Horn, bye
Finally, the Stallions were able to prevail in five games that gave them an early leg up in the 12-5A race.
With one half of the district season now under their belts, the two teams returned to the court on Tuesday with different stakes.
With Rockwall-Heath, Tyler Lee and Rockwall threatening to run away with the top three spots, that leaves just one playoff berth left to be fought among four teams who are tightly bunched.
The Jaguars entered Tuesday's match on the bottom end of that four-team group and their sense of urgency paid off as they rolled to a 25-15, 25-18, 25-18 victory over North Mesquite.
The two teams are now tied for fifth place at 2-5, one-half game behind Mesquite (2-4), which had a bye on Tuesday.
Horn followed the same road to success in each of the three games, taking control during the middle stages and then maintaining a comfortable lead until the end.
In the opener, Horn was clinging to a 7-6 lead when Terita Williamson had a kill and Jessica Kondikoff followed with a three-point serving run to open some breathing room at 11-6 and after another long run, it was suddenly 17-8.
North Mesquite tried to hang around and got back to within 20-13 on a point from Carisha Reed, but Abi Kilgore had an ace and Andi Spearman had two kills and an ace down the stretch as Horn closed out the 25-15 win.
North Mesquite grabbed the early lead in game two on an ace by Tuka Mickens, but it would be short-lived, as a three-point serving run by Rene Chidozie gave the Jaguars a 9-5 lead.
The Stallions continued to battle and a pair of service points from Chelsea Scudder tied it at 10-10, but Horn would reel off the next six points, again behind the serving of Kondikoff, to take control.
Emily Edwards had a pair of points and Vann Dunn had a block at the net to keep North Mesquite in it, but an ace from Chidozie and a pair of kills from Williamson helped the Jaguars take the second game, 25-18.
The third game was more of the same and the Jaguars closed in on the sweep when a pair of kills from Kilgore made it 19-11. The teams traded points until a small run by the Stallions got them to within 23-17, but that was as close as it would get, as Kondikoff and Williamson served the final two points to complete the victory.
Horn had wrapped up the first half of district play last Friday with a loss to Tyler Lee, while North Mesquite had a bye.
Mesquite had picked up a huge victory on Friday with a 25-17, 25-17, 25-20 win over Longview.
In addition to the race for fourth place, there are also battles at the top, although Rockwall-Heath was able to solidify its spot atop the standings with a 25-21, 25-6, 25-19 win over Tyler Lee.
The Hawks remain undefeated at 7-0, while the Red Raiders drop back into a tie for second place with Rockwall at 5-2.
While Mesquite enters this week with a slight lead for the final playoff spot, it has a tough road during the next few days as it must play at Rockwall-Heath and Rockwall.
North Mesquite faces a similar road with matches against Tyler Lee at home on Friday and Rockwall-Heath on Tuesday.
Horn will host Rockwall on Friday before enjoying its bye on Tuesday?
STANDINGS
Rockwall-Heath 7-0 26-7
Tyler Lee 5-2 26-10
Rockwall 5-2 13-9
Mesquite 2-4 8-18
North Mesquite 2-5 8-20
Horn 2-5 15-22
Longview 1-6 8-11
Tuesday's Results
Horn def. North Mesquite 25-15, 25-18, 25-18
Rockwall-Heath def. Tyler Lee 25-21, 25-6, 25-19
Rockwall def. Longview 25-18, 25-22, 25-14
Mesquite, bye
Friday's Results
Mesquite def. Longview 25-17, 25-17, 25-20
Tyler Lee def. Horn 25-13, 25-16, 25-18
Rockwall-Heath def. Rockwall 25-12, 25-14, 25-19
North Mesquite, bye
Friday's Games
Mesquite at Rockwall-Heath
Rockwall at Horn
Tyler Lee at North Mesquite
Longview, bye
Tuesday's Games
Rockwall-Heath at North Mesquite
Mesquite at Rockwall
Tyler Lee vs. Longview
Horn, bye
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