CASEY GEORG Special to the Press
ROCKDALE — Brynn Leschber turned in her best effort of the season, knocking down a team-high 19 kills, and the Thrall Tigerettes (317) rolled into the regional tournament with a dominant 25-12, 25-19, 25-21 sweep of the Weimar Ladycats (30-12) Tuesday night in Rockdale.
The two teams traded points to open the first set, but it became evident that Weimar was not prepared for the fast-paced style of play of the Tigerettes. Thrall began to pull away, breaking a six-all tie with a 4-0 run. Leschber then took control of the net, pounding out a series of kills that pushed the lead to 14-8 at the midway point of the set.
Amber Kevil and Melaina Grissom added kills that extended the Tigerette lead to 20-9, and Thrall finished off the opening set with a 5-0 run. The final run was paced by kills from Melaina Grissom, Ellie Schmidt and an Emily Holybee ace.
“I thought we played with a lot of confidence,” said Thrall Coach Bethany Grissom. “We were a little nervous to start the Shiner match, but the girls were relaxed and ready to play tonight.”
Leschber continued her onslaught in the second set. Her three early kills staked the Tigerettes to a 4-1 lead and kept Weimar’s defense guessing as to how to handle Thrall’s quick set-kill combinations.
“Brynn absolutely went off,” Coach Grissom said. “She did a great job changing up her shots, and that kept them from effectively blocking.”
Weimar was able to keep it close, even knotting the game at six, but it was Thrall’s dominance at the net that proved too much for the Ladycats to handle. Melaina Grissom, who finished the night with 10 kills, and Kevil, each scored kills that pushed Thrall to a 12-8 lead. Leschber and Melaina Grissom added to the lead late, giving the Tigerettes set point, and Leschber finished the set with a driving kill to the middle of the Weimar defense.
By the start of the third set, it was clear to see the Ladycats’ will to fight had diminished. Dezi Lopez opened the third set with the serve for the Tigerettes, and when she relinquished the serve, the Tigerettes led 10-1. Lopez served four aces in the run and Leschber and Melaina Grissom each scored kills.
From that point, it was business as usual for Thrall. A brief lapse in the middle of the set allowed Weimar to close to within two, at 18-16, but four kills by Leschber pushed the lead to 23-17. And, when the Ladycats’ final shot sailed into the net, the Tigerettes had earned their fifth straight regional tournament berth. Thrall will face Johnson City in the regional semifinals on Friday at Brenham High School, beginning at 7 p.m.
The Eagles bounced Thrall from the playoffs in the semifinals last year, winning a five-set thriller.
“We’re definitely looking forward to playing Johnson City again,” Coach Grissom said. “We expect a great match from them, and we know they will be up for us.”
