Lubbock-Cooper volleyball rides dominant first set to sweep of Coronado

HIGH SCHOOL VOLLEYBALL

DISTRICT 4-5A

LUBBOCK-COOPER DEF. CORONADO 25-12, 25-19, 25-20

What this match means: Lubbock-Cooper went on the road and improved to 4-0 in district play while handing Coronado (2-1) its first loss. That puts the Lady Pirates alone at the top of the 4-5A standings after Monterey (1-3) topped previous unbeaten Abilene Wylie (2-1) on Tuesday.

Tuesday's highlights: The Lady Pirates looked dominant in the first set, with D'Mya Hill and Hope Douglass powering the offense with eight combined kills. But Cooper also benefited from eight Coronado hitting errors. The Lady Mustangs regrouped and made a competitive final two sets, forcing ties late in each. The Lady Pirates closed the door on 19-19 and 17-17 ties in the second and third games, respectively.

Tuesday's stars: Cooper libero Ava Hounshell frustrated the Coronado attack with a team-high 21 digs. Douglass led the Lady Pirates with 11 kills, and Hill followed with 10. Hill posted four of Cooper's 10 aces, and Douglass had two. Rylee Robertson (nine) was one of four Lady Pirates with at least five assists. Addison Andrews was the driving force for Coronado, finishing with seven kills and four digs.

Cooper coach Dana Hill on the fast start: "I think we were very mindful as we came out. We've just been really keeping in front of the girls that we want to control our own destiny. We knew that we were both (undefeated in district), so this was a big win for us to get, and we needed to be very intentional about things we were doing. We had a game plan, and I think we executed it, for the most part, very well."

Hounshell on the team's defense: "We watched a lot of film on their hitters. Luckily for me tonight, I was able to pick up a lot of balls for them. Since I did my job, our amazing hitters were able to do their job, put the ball down. Defense, even though it doesn't get much credit, it's a big part of what we do."

Dana Hill on Hounshell: "She plays with such heart and passion. She's the motor that usually makes our team go. She holds our players accountable in a way that not many can. She's the calm to our storm. Her leadership has been invaluable this year."

Coronado coach Kandi Stephens on the team's adjustments after the first set: "It really wasn't so much what I told them. I reminded them that we need to play like who we are and not worry about what's going on on the other side of the net. … Having that fighter, that killer mentality, in the first set we didn't really show that. In the second set, they showed a lot more determination and will to win."

Up next: Cooper is off until next Tuesday's match against Wylie. Coronado hosts Abilene High on Saturday.

This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Lubbock-Cooper volleyball rides first set win to sweep of Coronado