Lady Hippos comeback comes up just short
WACO — The Hutto High School varsity volleyball team fought until the very end Tuesday during a 6A-District 12 match on the road against district champion Midway High School.
Although the Pantherettes easily won the first two sets over the Lady Hippos 25-8 and 25-12, this Hutto squad under first-year head coach Jessica Martinez refused to quit.
Hutto won a hard-fought third and fourth set, 25-21 and 26-24, to stun Midway on its home floor and force a decisive fifth set but came up just short as the Lady Hippos were edged 10-15.
The Lady Hippos got an outstanding effort Tuesday from the duo of senior Charlize Williams and junior Isabella Orton as Hutto nearly pulled off the upset over Midway, who now has a perfect 10-0 record in district play. Williams had a team-high 13 kills and two blocks in the loss for Hutto, while Orton also had doubledigit kills with 11 and a pair of aces.
Hutto sophomore Victoria Escobedo had five kills on the night, while junior Macie Atkinson continued her stellar season as she was all over the court with 11 digs against Midway.
If the Lady Hippos (21-17 overall, 7-4 in district) handle business on the road Friday at Copperas Cove High School, Hutto will be locked into the No. 3 spot for the upcoming bi-district playoff round and will play either Mansfield High School, Cedar Hill High School or Waxahachie High School in the postseason opener from 6A-District 11.
Hutto High School varsity volleyball sophomore Victoria Escobedo (16) goes up to block a shot at the net Friday, Oct. 13 during the Lady Hippos’ home district match against Temple High School. Photo by Larry Pelchat
