GLEN ROSE – The Brownwood Lady Lions stretched their season-opening win streak to three games before suffering their first loss Saturday, splitting a pair of matches against Class 3A programs Henrietta and Peaster, which is ranked No 1 in the state by the Texas Girls Coaches Association.
“I’m proud of how the girls played and fought today,” said Lady Lions’ second-year head coach Allison Smith. “They showed some real character fighting and never giving up.”
The Lady Lions began the day with a 25-22, 32-30, 25-9 victory over Henrietta.
“We showed up and played a great match,” Smith said in regard to the win over Henrietta. “Our defense was again leading the charge and allowing the offense a chance to work.”
Olivia Fowler recorded a team-best 11 kills to pace the offense followed by six each from Ashlyn Storm and Tessa Goodwin, five apiece from Kylie Morris and Katelyn Windham, three from Jaylen Savage, and one from Kassidy Wooten.
Kylie Wooten dished out 16 assists, Goodwin contributed 15, Becca Church added two and Storm, Caitlyn Moody and Kassidy Wooten were each credited with one.
Goodwin, Morris and Fowler each served three aces, while Kassidy Wooten added one.
On defense, Fowler registered 15 digs trailed by Moody with 12, Goodwin and Kylie Wooten with eight apiece, Gracie Boswell with seven, Kassidy Wooten with four, Windham with three, and Morris with two.
Savage tallied eight blocks, Morris chipped in four, Goodwin logged three and Storm added one.
In the second match of the day, the Lady Lions came up on the short end of a five-set 25-19, 23-25, 25-15, 23-25, 18-16 decision to Peaster.
“Against Peaster we started slow from being tired but pushed through and got them to the fifth set where we had a chance to win but made crucial mental errors and missed some important serves that could’ve won us the match,” Smith said. “It was a tough game to lose because of how hard the girls fought and how well they played. We’ve got to focus and finish especially when we are tired.”
Windham led the attack with 10 kills followed by nine apiece from Fowler and Goodwin, eight from Storm, six from Savage, four from Morris, two from Church and one each from Moody and Boswell.
Goodwin distributed 26 assists, Kylie Wooten added 19 and one came from Fowler.
Boswell recorded five service aces trailed by Kassidy Wooten with four, Goodwin with three and Fowler, Windham and Kylie Wooten with one apiece.
Defensively, Moody’s 32 digs were a team-best followed by 13 from Boswell, 11 from Fowler, 10 from Goodwin, nine from Windham, seven from Kylie Wooten, four from Church, three from Kassidy Wooten and one from Savage.
At the net, Storm chalked up five blocks, Windham tallied three, Savage added two and Church notched one.
The Lady Lions (3-1) are back in action at 6 p.m. Tuesday as they host Wall.