After its own timeout, varsity volleyball was locked in a long rally with Dripping Springs. The point ended with a Westlake ball falling short and hitting its own net.
After that, the teams exchanged points.
But a three-point run by the Tigers closed the third set and soon, after another tight set, they also took the match.
“They are a really good team … we gave them a run for their money,” Senior outside hitter Lily Davis said. “We did the best we could because we played that level every game.”
Westlake (25-17, 6-3 District 26-6A) fell to Dripping Springs (40-2, 8-0 District 26-6A) 3-1 at Al Bennett Court Tuesday. On future Chaps night, the house was packed by families and middle school volleyball players cheering for the team they may soon play for.
“It was really heartwarming,” Davis said. “When you’re in that position, when you were that age, it’s awesome to be that person (now), and it’s so rewarding.”
Junior outside hitter Chloe Kelly highlighted the start of the game with a spike that touched a Dripping Springs girl before going out. After battling back-and-forth for points throughout the first set, the Chaps took a timeout and came out of the huddle going on a four-point run to take the lead, 23-22.
Westlake finished off the set, 26-24, with an ace from sophomore outside hitter Allie Hudgins.
“I knew at that moment that our girls were ready to fight,” varsity volleyball head coach Miguel Saenz said. “I was a little apprehensive on what was going to show up tonight.” I was really, really happy to see that I set the tone for the rest of the match.”
The Tigers jumped to a 6-2 lead to start the second set. Senior outside hitter Lily Davis took the Tigers lead away with a five- point serving run, making the score 8-7.
“Just going for the ace,” Davis said. “We were down so at that point it was like nothing.”
Dripping Springs quickly took the lead back, though, making the score 22-13. The Chaps lost the second set, 25-18, on a close call from the back-outside line that fired up the crowd, team and the coaches..
The Chaps came out of the quick break hard and started off the third set with a 10-4 lead due to a perfectly placed ball by Davis landing in Tigers’ no man’s land.
The teams exchanged points throughout the match and the third set was no different. The score went back and forth throughout the set but Davis’ consistent hitting and serving as well as senior libero Mallory Weyand’s ability to make quick saves earned the Chaps a 21-18 lead and forced a Tiger timeout.
Dripping Springs came out of the timeout firing and after another long rally ended with a ball hit into the Chaps own net, the two teams found themselves tied, 23-23. Westlake jumped ahead 25-24, but a three-point Tigers run ended the third set.
In a do-or-die situation, Davis said the Chaps had to stay positive going into the fourth set to keep their hopes of beating the number one team in Texas alive.
Despite the Westlake effort to stay positive, he Tigers jumped out to an early 11-4 lead. As they inched closer to the win at 18-12, Westlake called a timeout.
“Getting their thoughts off of the negative play and just moving forward, our girls sometimes tend to dwell on some mistakes that we make,” Saenz said about what was covered in the timeout. “It’s just about calling time out, you know, moving forward, having a plan for the next play, and letting them forget about what just happened.”
After the timeout, the Chaps battled back through sophomore defensive specialist Sunny McWilliams’ four-point serving run that cut the lead to 20-18. They continued their momentum and after senior outside hitter Malaysia Brady tipped the ball into Tigers territory at the net, the Chaps evened the score at 21.
The Chaps took the lead late, 24-23, off a cross-court kill by senior outside hitter Tatum Ahrens. But the Tigers offense was too much for the Chaps to handle. They went on a three-point run that won the set, 26-24, and closed out the match 3-1 for the Tigers.
The Chaps next take on Bowie Friday at Al Bennett Court. The last time these two teams met fell Westlake’s way with a 3-0 sweep. The Chaps can tie for second place in District 26-6A with a win and an Austin High loss the same night.
