Dripping Springs killed Alamo Heights’ chances of making the State Semifinals last year with a 3-0 win and, again, the Lady Tigers shut out host Alamo Heights 3-0 this season on Sept. 10. Visiting at Tiger Gym on Oct. 12, Alamo Heights almost returned the favor. Heights forced the Lady Tigers to go 5 sets for only the second time this season.
Dripping Springs rallied to win sets three and four 25-14 and 25-20, after narrowly losing the two opening sets 25-22, 25-23. The third and final set would be an intense roller coaster until the two teams tied at 15 before the Mules scored on a kill and a block that fell out of bounds for a 17-15 win.
The district championship may now be out of reach but with more than a decade as Head Volleyball Coach Michael Kane has found that a positive can come from a negative.
“We hadn’t faced being down 2-0 and I’m super proud of these kids for showing such resiliency and fighting. Alamo Heights has so much talent, we were certainly not overlooking them and they made us earn every point,” Kane said after the loss. “We never play to lose. A few mistakes at the end let a win slip through our fingers. We’ll focus on what’s in front of us. And this side of the bracket may be easier.”
Mackenzie Plante led in attacking with 19 kills, Ava Williamson 15, Natalie Arnold and Karley Sledge had 14 each. Taylor Tjelmeland had 25 digs, Plante 14, and Ryann Allison 10. Serve receiving had Plante with 28, Tjelmeland 23, Ella Baldwin 20 and Sledge 10.
The Lady Tigers travel to Seguin on Friday, Oct. 22 and they host Tivy on “senior night” Tuesday, Oct. 26 with varsity starting at 6:30 p.m.
