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Magnolia spikers advance to regional final
By Roxy Halekakis
HOUSTON – Friendswood had no answer for Magnolia’s offensive fireworks Friday night as the Lady Bulldogs advanced to the Region III-4A championship game with a convincing 25-13, 25-20, 25-23 win over the Lady Mustangs at the Spring Branch ISD Don Coleman Coliseum.
Magnolia (31-13) will now square off against District 18-4A co-champion Brenham (winner’s over El Campo) at 6 tonight for a chance to punch their ticket to San Marcos and the state tournament.
“We didn’t make very many mistakes tonight,” said Magnolia head coach Terri Johnson. “I thought Paige (Holland) really spread the offense around and got all of our hitters involved. Hannah (Davies) came through with some key digs as well.”
“I would like to have seen us end a little stronger,” added Johnson, regarding game three, when her team led 24-19. “But when you get to this point, and you can win in three, you take it and move on to the finals.”
Magnolia senior Kelli Stewart was a thorn in the side of the Lady Mustangs with her 18 kill performance, while Katzy Randall (12 kills) slid to the corner and took advantage of the brilliant setting of Holland (41 assists). Meagan Little covered the middle with her eight kills, while Davies piled up 17 digs that included a pair of pancake digs, giving good fodder for the Lady Bulldog’s highlight reel.
It was not only Stewart’s powerful finishing stroke that gave Friendswood fits, but her razor-sharp jump serves that broke the Lady Mustang’s stride. Stewart aced a pair of serves in a four-point string that eventually locked up game one 25-13, along with kills by Breane Matula and Courtney Felinski.
Holland started off game two with a dandy dink, then Randall fired off an impressive kill into the back left corner of a long sustained rally to finish the play. Randall was one of the symbols of a Magnolia team that played looser than its opponent as she shined on offense as well as defense in the second game.
The score remained close as Jasmine Casey finally started clicking for Friendswood. The Lady Mustangs were held to only three kills in the first game, but were unable to make any viable threat, as Davies, Randall and Stewart seemed to pick up everything within grabbing distance.
Friendswood’s shining moment was when Kaelan O’Neill notched back-to-back aces to slice Magnolia’s lead to 17-15. But Randall powered a kill through a block, sending the Lady Mustangs back to the stables.
Stewart proved to be the go-to gal for Holland as she powered four straight kills through Friendswood’s defense to make it 24-20. Stewart reigned supreme as she aced the game-winner.
The Lady Bulldogs took a 13-5 lead with Little garnering a huge solo block. Angi Gould served to a 15-9 advantage as Holland continued to mix things up at the net. With a 19-13 advantage, Magnolia hit another lull, committing three straight hitting errors as Friendswood raised its hopes.
The Lady Mustangs got as close as a point, closing the gap to 24-23. But a dramatic dig by Holland allowed Little to set up Randall, who drove it home, sending Magnolia to the championship game. That was the finishing stroke of precision teamwork that kept the Lady Bulldogs at the top of their game.
“Hopefully we can get a little bit of celebrating in,” said Johnson. “But we already talked about what a battle Brenham will be. It may come down to who makes the most errors and who wants it the most.”
Magnolia (31-13) will now square off against District 18-4A co-champion Brenham (winner’s over El Campo) at 6 tonight for a chance to punch their ticket to San Marcos and the state tournament.
“We didn’t make very many mistakes tonight,” said Magnolia head coach Terri Johnson. “I thought Paige (Holland) really spread the offense around and got all of our hitters involved. Hannah (Davies) came through with some key digs as well.”
“I would like to have seen us end a little stronger,” added Johnson, regarding game three, when her team led 24-19. “But when you get to this point, and you can win in three, you take it and move on to the finals.”
Magnolia senior Kelli Stewart was a thorn in the side of the Lady Mustangs with her 18 kill performance, while Katzy Randall (12 kills) slid to the corner and took advantage of the brilliant setting of Holland (41 assists). Meagan Little covered the middle with her eight kills, while Davies piled up 17 digs that included a pair of pancake digs, giving good fodder for the Lady Bulldog’s highlight reel.
It was not only Stewart’s powerful finishing stroke that gave Friendswood fits, but her razor-sharp jump serves that broke the Lady Mustang’s stride. Stewart aced a pair of serves in a four-point string that eventually locked up game one 25-13, along with kills by Breane Matula and Courtney Felinski.
Holland started off game two with a dandy dink, then Randall fired off an impressive kill into the back left corner of a long sustained rally to finish the play. Randall was one of the symbols of a Magnolia team that played looser than its opponent as she shined on offense as well as defense in the second game.
The score remained close as Jasmine Casey finally started clicking for Friendswood. The Lady Mustangs were held to only three kills in the first game, but were unable to make any viable threat, as Davies, Randall and Stewart seemed to pick up everything within grabbing distance.
Friendswood’s shining moment was when Kaelan O’Neill notched back-to-back aces to slice Magnolia’s lead to 17-15. But Randall powered a kill through a block, sending the Lady Mustangs back to the stables.
Stewart proved to be the go-to gal for Holland as she powered four straight kills through Friendswood’s defense to make it 24-20. Stewart reigned supreme as she aced the game-winner.
The Lady Bulldogs took a 13-5 lead with Little garnering a huge solo block. Angi Gould served to a 15-9 advantage as Holland continued to mix things up at the net. With a 19-13 advantage, Magnolia hit another lull, committing three straight hitting errors as Friendswood raised its hopes.
The Lady Mustangs got as close as a point, closing the gap to 24-23. But a dramatic dig by Holland allowed Little to set up Randall, who drove it home, sending Magnolia to the championship game. That was the finishing stroke of precision teamwork that kept the Lady Bulldogs at the top of their game.
“Hopefully we can get a little bit of celebrating in,” said Johnson. “But we already talked about what a battle Brenham will be. It may come down to who makes the most errors and who wants it the most.”
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