After spotting the Thorndale Lady Dogs (21-12 overall, 3-1 District 26-2A) a one set lead, the Thrall Tigerettes (22-13, 4-0) seized control of Saturday’s match to take sole possession of first place in District 26-2A with a 22-25, 25-19, 25-16, 25-15 win. Thrall got off to a quick start in the opening set, leading 3-0, but Thorndale took advantage of solid net play and multiple Tigerettes miscues to take a 9-3 lead. The Lady Dogs were able to maintain control until the late going when Thrall made a run to cut the lead to 24-22, but Kyndal Robinson’s kill closed out the first set for Thorndale.
“I think losing that first set actually helped us mentally,” said Thrall Coach Bethany Grissom. “You never want to lose a set, but I think that was a wake-up call for us.”
In the second set, it was Thrall who jumped out to a big lead. Melaina Grissom’s kill gave the Tigerettes an 8-2 advantage, but the Lady Dogs wouldn’t quit. Thorndale battled back to tie the score twice at 13 and 17 before Thrall pulled away. Mia Moellenberg’s two kills closed out the set for the Tigerettes.
The Tigerettes controlled the third set from the outset. They built an 11-6 lead and eventually expanded their advantage to 20-12. Brynn Leschber’s kill off a quick set from Aaliyah Couch gave the Tigerettes a two sets to none lead.
The Lady Dogs were able to keep the fourth set close early, but an 11-3 run put the Tigerettes ahead 17-9. Thorndale was able to close within 21-14 late, but kills by Melaina Grissom and Leschber gave the Tigerettes match point. On the final point, Couch founding an opening on the backside of Thorndale’s defense for the kill and a Thrall win.
“Thorndale always plays us tough and we expect that every time we step on the floor with them,” Coach Grissom said. “I was proud of how our girls fought back from losing that first set. I think we played pretty solid volleyball after that opening set.”
Thrall was back on the floor Tuesday when they traveled to Bartlett and the Tigerettes will host Granger on Saturday.
