Oak Ridge had just one match last week and it was a tough one.
This week, the War Eagles have a couple opportunities to secure a playoff spot for the second consecutive season.
The biggest opportunity has everything wrapped up into one 5:30 p.m. Tuesday at home against Willis.
Oak Ridge (31-10, 8-5) has the opportunity to clinch a playoff spot, match last year’s win total and do it in front of the home crowd.
The War Eagles come in two full games ahead of the Wildkats (23-16, 8-8) and already have the advantage when they beat Willis in a sweep back on Sept. 20.
Oak Ridge and Willis are the only teams with high probability for the fourth and final playoff spot. Grand Oaks, The Woodlands and College Park have all clinched already and sixth place Caney Creek would need to go 3-0 to have a chance.
Oak Ridge travels to Caney Creek — a team it swept on Sept. 24 – on Friday at 5:30 p.m.
Oak Ridge won’t dwell too much on last week, where it only played Friday afternoon and were swept 25-12, 25-15, 25-21 by No. 7-ranked Grand Oaks, the defending state champions in Class 6A.
The War Eagles are the favorites in the third match of the season with Willis.
Not only did Oak Ridge sweep Willis last month in district play, it also defeated the Wildkats in a two-set match on Aug. 23 at the Huntsville Tournament.
In September’s 25-12, 25-22, 25-13 sweep of the Wildkats, junior Leila Ceaser had a double-double of 10 kills and 12 digs. She also had four aces to lead in that department.
Fellow junior Gaby Santiago had seven kills and a team-best 16 digs.
Sophomore Micah Rusher had a big night with six kills and five blocks while senior Bradi Rhodes led in assists with 19.
In the earlier match with Caney Creek – which went 25-10, 25-14, 25-10 – Santiago and Ceaser each had nine kills while senior Layla Porter had eight and Rusher had seven.
Caesar had 14 digs, Santiago had 13 and junior Riley Dube had seven. Rhodes had six digs to go along with a team-high 20 assists. Junior Jada Clay had three blocks.
After this week, Oak Ridge had just one more district match a week from Tuesday at home against The Woodlands.
DISTRICT 13-6A STANDINGS
Grand Oaks 14-0
The Woodlands 11-2
College Park 10-4
Oak Ridge 8-5
Willis 6-6
Caney Creek 5-8
Conroe 3-9
New Caney 1-11
Cleveland 0-13
(Chris Zorzi/SportCast Media)
