Tigerettes fall to Lady Mustangs

Tigerettes fall to Lady Mustangs

CASEY GEORG Special to the Press

MUMFORD — Thrall’s Tigerettes (19-7) did something Tuesday night they hadn’t done since mid-August. They lost their second match in a row, dropping a 25-22, 25-17, 19-25, 26-28, 12-15 decision to the Mumford Lady Mustangs (22-7).

Throughout the first two sets, the Tigerettes were in complete control. But, as the third set got underway, it seemed like the Tigerettes lost the momentum and, Mumford, currently ranked eighth in the latest Texas Girls Coaches Association poll, picked it up.

“Mumford played a heck of a game,” Thrall Coach Bethany Grissom said. “And, their student section showed up halfway through the third game and was crazy. Their girls, all of a sudden, started playing lights out, and we couldn’t switch it into gear after that.”

Mumford picked up the second set and, while the Tigerettes had a chance to end the match in four sets, dropped a hard-fought fourth set. The Lady Mustangs were able to control the tempo of the fifth set and, while the Tigerettes were able to keep it close, could not overcome the momentum swing to the Mumford side of the court.

“Mumford is a very scrappy team,” Grissom said. “And, beginning with the third set, they didn’t let anything hit the floor. It also didn’t help that we had 19 service errors.”

“It was the perfect storm, and we fell victim to it,” Grissom added.

Last Saturday, the Tigerettes dropped a four-set match to the top-ranked and undefeated Leon Jewett Lady Cougars (32-0). They did manage to take a set off the Lady Cougars, which is something only two other teams have been able to do all season.

Thrall will begin District 26-2A play on Saturday when they travel to Bartlett. They will return home on Tuesday to face off against an improved Granger Lady Lions team.