By Rob Tate
SportCast Media
It’ll be light this week in terms of district play, but the Oak Ridge War Eagles will be challenged with a pair of formidable opponents as they begin a four-match road stretch beginning Tuesday.
Oak Ridge (24-6, 2-1) will make the trip up Interstate 45 to face Conroe (9-14, 1-1) at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday before making a trip to Klein Cain (9-21) for a non-district match at 5:30 p.m. Friday.
Oak Ridge comes in off a demanding week that saw a five-set marathon loss at College Park and a clean sweep of New Caney three nights later on Friday.
Juniors Gaby Santiago and Leila Ceaser. Santiago totaled 20 kills over the eight sets last against the Cavaliers and Eagles. She also poured in nine aces against New Caney.
Ceaser, meanwhile, also totaled 20 kills in the two matches.
Santiago has 238 kills (3.4 per set) and Ceaser has 171 (2.3 per set) to lead the Oak Ridge attack.
They wouldn’t get by without terrific passing, and senior Bradi Rhodes does just that. Rhodes had 56 assists last week and is three shy of 400 just five weeks into the season.
Sophomore Micah Rusher has been strong at the net with over 70 blocks on the year.
Conroe played solidly in two matches last week, including a sweep of New Caney on Tuesday and a non-district sweep of Cypress Creek on Friday.
Under the direction of second-year coach Keandra McCardell, the Tigers have a balanced roster led by six seniors, including AVCA All-America watch list members Prestyn Parish and Kendall Glover as well as sophomore Bella Murray.
Conroe made an epic run to the playoffs in 2022, the last time it beat Oak Ridge.
The War Eagles swept the Tigers last year with the first match in September going five sets and the second meeting a month later a sweep.
Oak Ridge beat Conroe in a two-set match earlier this season at the Huntsville Tournament.
As for Klein Cain, Oak Ridge is 8-0 all-time against the Hurricanes, including a two-set sweep at the Katy/Cy-Fair Tournament last month.
The Hurricanes dropped District 15-6A matches to Klein Oak and Tomball Memorial last month.
9. Cleveland 0-3
