By Moses Leos III

Twenty-one ties and four lead changes made up Tuesday’s frenetic, back-and-forth district 14-6A volleyball match between the Hays Lady Rebels and Bowie Bulldogs.  

But Hays’ inability to close sets in the clutch allowed Bowie to claim a 27-25, 25-22, 25-16 victory at Bales Gym.  

Hays (14-18, 3-4) was led by junior Hailee Morton’s 11 kills. Lady Rebel junior Mackenzie Coates finished with 13 assists, while junior Anise LaHue had 10 digs.  

Both Hays and Bowie scrapped in a see-saw first set. Leading Hays was the offensive effort of Morton, who tallied several kills to allow the Lady Rebels to keep pace.   

Morton said strong communication, along with cohesive play, led to success.  

“It’s staying in system and just picking each other up when we get down, and just encouraging everyone,” Morton said.  

Hays rallied from an early 7-4 deficit, eventually forcing extra points at 25-25. But Hays couldn’t maintain momentum as Bowie scored two consecutive points to close the set.  

Close play continued into the second frame. Adept defense, along with fluid passing, provided the base for the Lady Rebels to build a sizeable 12-6 advantage and plenty of momentum. 

But Bowie chipped away at Hays’ lead. The Bulldogs gained production from their offense, allowing them to rally and tie the score at 17-17. From there, Bowie closed out by outscoring Hays 8-5 down the strech.  

The Lady Rebels kept pace to start the third set, but slowly lost ground to Bowie’s consistent attack. The Bulldogs captured momentum for good by taking a 18-9 lead and never looking back.