By Rob Tate
SportCast Media
It was an encouraging start against the defending state champions.
In the home gym of No. 4 ranked Grand Oaks, which won 50 matches a year ago en route to the Class 6A state title, Oak Ridge ran out to a great start.
But in order to beat the champs, it has to be a near-perfect match. Grand Oaks brought a heavy attack and took control for a 25-22, 25-11, 25-19 sweep Tuesday night in District 13-6A.
Oak Ridge (26-7, 3-2) saw its three-match win streak end while Grand Oaks (26-6, 6-0) has won five straight, including sweeps of New Caney and Conroe last week.
The Grizzlies are now 10-1 all-time against their rival.
Oak Ridge climbed out to an 8-0 lead in the first set as Grand Oaks was long on a few attacks, but also War Eagles Micah Rusher and Gaby Santiago contributed points.
Oak Ridge led 12-5 on a kill by Jade Clay before the Grizzlies battled back by taking nine of the next 10 points. Grand Oaks tied it at 14-all and took the lead on an ace by Hailey Lotspeich.
Clay added a kill to make it 24-22 before Pittsburgh commit Samara Coleman, a senior, ended the set with a kill for the Grizzlies.
“We even executed some things in that first set,” Oak Ridge coach Tommie Lynne Sledge said. “I just think we’ve got to work on executing when we get in stressful situations. It got stressful and we panicked.”
Coleman and junior Halle Thompson, a Wisconsin commit, each had long stretches of dominance offensively. Already up 15-6 in the second set, Coleman had seven straight kills and then added kills on the final two of three points at the end.
“They are great players,” Sledge said of Coleman and Thompson. “They move the ball around really well. They swung hard when they needed to swing hard. They tipped and they are just very smart, intelligent players.”
Oak Ridge played the third set tighter than the second. There were four ties, but just one lead change as the War Eagles played from behind.
Leila Ceaser had key kills late to keep her team in contention.
“You’ve got to do your job and that’s why you put six on the court,” Sledge said overall about playing Grand Oaks. “I think we’ve got to do better at knowing what our role is, do our job and execute off that.”
Junior Karlie Glover led with six kills. Ceaser added five, Santiago and senior Layla Porter had four.
Senior Bradi Rhodes had 12 assists and nine kills. Junior Samantha Daley also had 12 digs while Santiago had nine. Rusher had six out of the War Eagles’ seven blocks.
While Grand Oaks remains atop the district standings with College Park and The Woodlands battling Tuesday night for second place, Oak Ridge is still in great shape for playoff spot in fourth.
The War Eagles will face Willis, which came into the night in fifth place, Friday night to cap a four-match road trip.
“That’s what the first round is all about,” Sledge said. “Seeing where you fit in, making adjustments and seeing how you’re going to compete going into that next round. I think we definitely have some work to do and continue to improve and get better. We just have to bring it every game.”
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