BRENHAM — For the second time in as many seasons, the Thrall Tigerettes’ volleyball season came to an end at Brenham High School Friday night. The Tigerettes, who finished the season with a 31-8 record, fell to the Johnson City Lady Eagles (26-19) 24-26, 25-27, 25-19, 22-25.
“We knew going in that Johnson City would be tough,” Thrall Coach Bethany Grissom said. “They played a tough schedule and had a good group back from last season’s regional finalist.”
Despite the loss, it was the Tigerettes who started the match strong. Amber Kevil and Melaina Grissom each knocked down a pair of kills, and the Tigerettes took advantage of multiple Lady Eagle miscues to take an 8-3 lead. Emily Holybee followed with a pair of aces and another Melaina Grissom kill, pushing the advantage to 13-4.
Thrall managed to keep the momentum and eventually pushed their lead to 19-11, but Johnson City wouldn’t quit. Kills by Sky Hurlbut, Aizlyn Gorum and Kinlee Fiero, brought the Lady Eagles back, and a pair of Tigerette errors knotted the score at 24. Gorum and Casey Loewer finished off the first set for Johnson City with a pair of kills.
The second set was close throughout. Brynn Leschber tallied four kills in the opening moments, and when Meliana Grissom drove a shot to the backline, the score was tied at 10. The teams traded points from there, with neither team leading by more than two, but again errors proved costly for the Tigerettes, and a pair of mistakes gave the Lady Eagles the second set, and a two-sets-to-none lead.
“I think the nerves got to us a little bit,” said Coach Grissom. “Their quick offense was a little too much for us. We did battle, though.”
Leschber helped the Tigerettes to an early lead in the third set. Four kills by Leschber gave the Tigerettes a 5-2 lead. Kevil and Holybee added a kill each that pushed the Thrall advantage to 11-4. The Tigerettes continued to put distance between themselves and the Lady Eagles, eventually building a 19-8 lead at the midway point of the set. Johnson City made it close, cutting the lead to 22-19 late, but a Dezi Lopez ace and a Leschber kill gave Thrall the third set.
The fourth set saw the teams trade shots from the outset. Neither team could manage to grab the momentum, but the Tigerettes did take a 21-18 lead late. A Gorum kill tied the score at 22 for the Lady Eagles, and she added another kill that sealed the win for Johnson City.
“I was proud of how the girls never gave up,” Coach Grissom said.
Despite the loss, Coach Grissom was pleased with the efforts of her team this season. “I think the girls went above all expectations,” she said. “Not many people thought we would go as far as we did. This group was a pleasure to work with. They were coachable, and enjoyed playing with each other.”
Thrall High School varsity volleyball junior Amber Kevil (12) and sophomore Nevaeh Irvin (9) go up to block a shot at the net Oct. 24 during the Tigerettes’ rivalry match at Thorndale High School. Photo by Larry Pelchat
