On Tuesday night, the Hallettsville Lady Brahmas defeated Rice Consolidated’s Lady Raiders in three, close sets. The game took place at 6:15 p.m. in the Hallettsville High School gymnasium. The Lady Brahmas earned their third district win, a much needed momentum boost going into the final stretch of their search for a spot in the playoffs.
The Lady Brahmas opened the first set with senior Hanna Zachary (#4) serving. A kill by the Lady Raiders would give Rice the first point of the set, but would be covered by sophomore Jans Henke (#7) with a kill of her own. Two more kills by seniors Kenedy Wood (#5) and Kasey Harper (#8) would bring the early score to 2-4 in favor of Hallettsville. A kill and an ace by the Raiders combined with four errors by the Lady Brahmas would turn the score in favor of Rice, 9-5. The Lady Raiders would continue to keep the lead until two kills by Harper, one apiece for Henke and Wood and a Rice error would tie the set at 14 all. The two teams would continue to stay within one point of each other until a kill and two aces by Harper. A block by Wood and junior Haven Drozd (#11) followed by a kill apiece and a serve into the net by Rice would seal the set at 20-25 in favor of the Lady Brahmas.
Rice served the first play of the second set into the net. Two errors by the Raiders and a kill by Wood would give the Lady Brahmas the early lead, 0-4. Two more Lady Brahma kills and an ace by Harper would extend the lead to five points. Three kills from Rice would close the gap to two. A back-row kill by Zachary and a kill by Harper would keep the lead with the Lady Brahmas, 10-12. A series of errors by both teams and a tip-point won by Rice would tie the game at 14 apiece. Two errors by the Lady Brahmas and an ace by Rice would swing the lead in the Lady Raider’s favor. Four errors by Hallettsville and an ace by Rice would extend the Raider’s lead 22-17. With the Lady Raiders closing in on a second-set victory, the Lady Brahmas rallied back with an ace, followed by two Rice errors, a tip-point by junior setter Alaina Halata (#2) and two more errors by the Lady Raiders to win the second set 26-28.
Zachary opened the third and final set with an ace. Two kills by Wood and Henke would add to the Lady Brahma’s early lead. Errors by both teams would even out the score at five all. Kills by Drozd and freshman Christine Felchman (#15) and two Rice errors would give a two-point lead to the Lady Brahmas. Kills by Drozd and Harper would extend the lead. Errors were a defining issue for both teams, keeping the score close throughout the final set. Crucial errors for Rice would give the Lady Brahmas a six-point lead going into the final stretch of the game. Errors for the Lady brahmas
would give Rice an unearned come-back, with the score 20-23 late in the final set. However, a tip point by Felchman and a final kill by Harper sealed the final set and the game.
This victory moves the Lady Brahmas to 3-6 in district play, 15-21 overall. Rice will drop to 1-9 in district and 13-26 overall. The Lady Brahma’s next home game will take place on Monday, Oct. 21, against the Columbus Cardinals. The Cardinals are currently undefeated in district, defending the first seed going into playoffs.
