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Abilene High knocks off Amarillo Tascosa in volleyball playoff opener; Wylie tops Caprock

staff reports
·4 min read

LUBBOCK – Abilene High, playing in its first playoff match since 2015, didn’t let the big stage bother it.

Ryleigh Lawson had 11 kills, while Jadyn Hernandez had nine kills and 13 blocks as the Lady Eagles beat District 3-5A runner-up Amarillo Tascosa 25-27, 25-15, 25-22, 25-23 in a Region I-5A bi-district match Tuesday at Estacado High School.

“I thought the team did well,” AHS coach Caroline Cleveland said. “The first set was a little rocky. I think there was some first-time jitters, which is totally normal. We regrouped, and they were like, ‘We’ve got this.’ As a collective unit, they accomplished what they wanted.”

Mia Cairo and Amelia Carr added nine kills each, and Allie Bennett had eight as AHS, the third seed from District 4-5A, nabbed its first postseason win since 2014 – also a first-round match against Tascosa.

It’s the first postseason win for Cleveland, a former AHS player in her second year as the team’s coach.

“The gold ball,” Cleveland said. “It’s definitely a big treat and a banner on the wall. The girls are definitely excited.”

Alexis Dolton had 39 assists, and Kinzley Cantu had 32 digs for the Lady Eagles, who advance to play El Paso Hanks (26-10) at 5:30 p.m. Friday at Andrews High School.

Hanks, the District 2-5A champion, beat El Paso Andress 25-18, 25-22, 25-21.

No AHS players except Cantu and Carr had postseason experience before Tuesday's match. Cantu had played in the playoffs with the Lady Eagles’ softball team, while Carr had run at the area and region track meets.

REGION I-5A BI-DISTRICT PLAYOFF

Abilene High def. Amarillo Tascosa 25-27, 25-15, 25-22, 25-23

AMARILLO TASCOSA – n/a.

ABILENE HIGH – Kills: Ryleigh Lawson 11, Jadyn Hernandez 9, Mia Cairo 9, Amelia Carr 9, Allie Bennett 8, Alexis Dolton 1, Yasmine Delagarza 1; Assists: Dolton 39, Kinzley Cantu 4, Cairo 1; Digs: Kinzley Cantu 32, Laila Brown 14, Delagarza 14, Bennett 11, Dolton 6, Lawson 6, Carr 4; Blocks: Hernandez 13, Carr 6, Bennett 2, Cairo 2, Dolton 2, Lawson 1; Aces: Dolton 1, Brown 1.

RECORDS – Amarillo Tascosa 23-18; Abilene High 17-20.

Abilene Wylie turns away Caprock

At Levelland, Indiah Maroney pounded out 16 kills and had two blocks to lead Abilene Wylie past Amarillo Caprock Caprock 25-14, 25-17, 23-25, 26-24 in a Region I-5A bi-district playoff match at Levelland High School.

Bri Johnston and Taylar Riley added eight kills apiece, and Aliyah Jowers had seven as the District 4-5A runner-up Lady Bulldogs eased past the Lady Longhorns (22-18), the third-place team from District 3-5A. It was Caprock’s first playoff match in 40 years.

“It was a tough third and fourth sets,” Wylie coach Shay Cox said. “We made it a little tougher on ourselves. Caprock put up a huge fight, but we’re super excited to get the win.”

Callie O’Connell had 22 assists, and Hanna Hood had 17. Kat Martinez had 17 digs, and Mycala Reed had 15.

Wylie (15-16) advances to play El Paso High (32-7) at 2 p.m. Saturday at Midland Christian. El Paso High, the District 1-5A champion, beat El Paso Horizon 25-13, 25-23, 25-15. The Wylie/El Paso winner advances to play the Abilene High/Hanks winner in the third round next week.

REGION I-5A BI-DISTRICT PLAYOFF

Abilene Wylie def. Amarillo Caprock 25-14, 25-17, 23-25, 26-24

AMARILLO CAPROCK – n/a.

ABILENE WYLIE – Kills: Indiah Maroney 16, Bri Johnston 8, Taylar Riley 8, Aliyah Jowers 7, Brylee Pursley 4, Wesley Ruff 4, Callie O’Connell 2, Hanna Hood 1; Assists: O’Connell 22, Hood 17, Kat Martinez 2, Ella Cothran 2, Mycala Reed 1; Digs: Martinez 17, Reed 15, Pursley 10, Ashton Hansen 6, Hood 5, Ruff 5, O’Connell 4, Riley 3, Jowers 2, Johnston 2, Maroney 2; Blocks: Ruff 2, Maroney 2, Johnston 1, Riley 1; Aces: Hood 2, Pursley 2, Hansen 2, Martinez 1, Reed 1.

RECORDS – Amarillo Caprock 22-18; Wylie 25-16.

Amarillo High sweeps Lady Coogs

At Lubbock, District 3-5A champion Amarillo High ended Abilene Cooper’s season with a 25-13, 27-25, 25-18 victory in a Region I-5A bi-district playoff match at Estacado High School.

The Lady Sandies (32-9) move on to play either El Paso Del Valle or El Paso Jefferson in the second round.

Mattie Tibbets led Cooper (17-20) with 11 kills. Karrigan Parrott had 14 assists and 11 digs. Jazlyn Hatcher had 13 digs.

REGION I-5A BI-DISTRICT PLAYOFF

Amarillo High def. Abilene Cooper 25-13, 27-25, 25-18

AMARILLO HIGH – n/a.

ABILENE COOPER – Kills: Mattie Tibbets 11, Aliyah Davis 5, Skyla Stark 4, Amayah Walzer 3, Abigail Pena-Perez 3, Jazlyn Hatcher 2, Karrigan Parrott 2; Assists: Parrott 14, Kylie Cox 9, Walzer 2; Digs: Hatcher 13, Parrott 11, Lune Finch 7, Walzer 5, Tibbets 4, Avi Varela 3, Stark 2, Cox 2, Davis 2; Blocks: Tibbets 1, Stark 1; Aces: Finch 2, Cox 1, Hatcher 1.

RECORDS – Amarillo High 32-9; Abilene Cooper 17-20.

This article originally appeared on Abilene Reporter-News: Abilene High, Wylie win volleyball playoff opener