EDITOR’S NOTE: This story has been corrected from an earlier version.
For the second straight season, the Oak Ridge War Eagles have earned a playoff spot out of the ridiculously-tough District 13-6A.
Oak Ridge swept Willis for the second time this season, this time with scores of 26-24, 25-20, 25-22 on Tuesday night.
Oak Ridge (32-11, 9-5) matched last year’s win total and led most of the way against the Wildkats (23-19, 8-7) on the night.
“I think my girls played really well all together,” Oak Ridge coach Tommie Lynne Sledge said. “I think there was a good collaboration. I know that they’re a good team. I have a lot of respect for Willis and their coach and they work really hard. They came together as well.”
Eight of nine district wins for Oak Ridge have come via sweeps.
The determined War Eagles seven different players combine on 12 kills in the opening set. Gaby Santiago led with four while Micah Rusher and Layla Porter each had two.
The War Eagles struggled to close out the Wildkats.
Up 23-17, Willis went on a 6-1 run for a 24-all tie before Oak Ridge closed out with a kill by Karli Glover and then an attack error by the Wildkats.
Carly Paugh, Tori Greeney and Kennadie Gibson led a stubborn Willis attack that just didn’t let down.
It was a similar instance in the second set. Oak Ridge led all the way, but Willis climbed to within three points at 22-19.
Oak Ridge stayed firm and Santiago gave her team the two-set advantage with a kill.
Both sets, Sledge went to a different look that helped refresh and take the set win.
“It’s nice that I can just look down the bench and throw someone in for a different look,” Sledge said. “They’re a good team. You can see when they come together, they work together, too.”2
The final set was a little tighter with nine different ties and six lead changes.
Oak Ridge led 24-20 before Willis took the next two points, but served it far to clinch the sweep.
Willis had four aces as a team and accuracy in the ones that didn’t result in points were key, too.
“Overall, we solidified it and played a really good, solid game,” Sledge said. “I think we served it really tough. I think our serve-receive was really good. Just together, they hustled for everything, they communicated really well. I’m really proud of that aspect of them.”
Santiago finished with 16 kills and nine digs.
Rilley Dube had 12 of her 31 digs in the first set. Bradi Rhodes had 21 digs.
Leila Ceaser and Jade Clay each had six kills. Ally Luke added five kills and Layla Porter had four.
In September’s 25-12, 25-22, 25-13 sweep of the Wildkats, Ceaser had a double-double of 10 kills and 12 digs. She also had four aces to lead in that department.
Oak Ridge has won six straight overall against Willis and are 21-3 against the Wildkats since 2007.
The War Eagles travel to Caney Creek Friday night.
(Chris Zorzi/SportCast Media)
