Shoemaker didn’t begin District 12-6A play as hoped. But, as head coach Merdith Shaw-Moore said, in volleyball, teams have to learn to just move onto what’s next.
The Lady Gray Wolves not only moved on Tuesday night. They also moved their league record to .500, rebounding from a loss last Friday to Harker Heights by sweeping another KISD opponent, Killeen, 28-26, 25-14, 25-17.
“We were really determined,” said Shoemaker libero Genesis O’Neal-Soto, who posted a team-high 14 digs. “In practice we were focused on being determined and we came out refreshed today.”
In other District 12-6A action Tuesday night, the Lady Knights traveled to Bryan and came away with a 25-11, 25-27, 25-22, 25-20 victory that pushed their league mark to 2-0.
Tiarra Harris delivered five kills and four blocks, Mileyana Hopkins had four kills and three blocks, and Aaliyah Dixon dropped in four service aces for the Lady Knights in their win.
Tatianna Graves landed a team-high 11 kills for Shoemaker, which also got six kills from Janeen Lashley-Hill and five from Alaya Exford. Danae Dawson added 13 digs and six aces while Bre’elle Freeman offered up 23 assists.
QuDeja Tapin led the Lady Roos with 12 kills and three blocks. Cadens White contributed seven kills and two blocks, and Payton Dupont had one kill and two blocks.
The entirety of the opening set was as back and forth as it gets, with Shoemaker pulling ahead only to have Killeen claw right back. The Lady Roos caught the Lady Grey Wolves at 24-all, and it was tied again at 25-25 and 26-26 before Shoemaker dialed up the set-clinching points.
“We just stayed together as one unit and played together,” O’Neal-Soto said. “We wanted to remain
poised and hungry.”
Shoemaker cruised to a 2-0 match lead, but needed a late-set rally in the third to seal the victory after Killeen chipped away at an eight-point deficit to get within two, 16-14. The Lady Grey Wolves, though, scored nine of the next 11 points.
“I don’t think we gave Harker Heights a very competitive match. You’ve just got to put your best foot forward and move forward, and I think tonight, they kind of did some things well tonight that they didn’t do last week. That was great to see,” Shaw-Moore said. “Some of our girls played some roles that were out of their norm –– played in some positions that they don’t normally play. But the game of volleyball is about having each other’s backs.”
More photos of the match can be viewed on Flickr: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjBHXfj.
In a non-district match Tuesday, Chaparral faced a tough Wimberley side that notched a home win in straight sets.
Harker Heights next is at Temple on Friday night when Killeen hosts Bryan and Shoemaker steps out of district play to take on KISD foe Ellison.
The Lady Bobcats and Lady Eagles begin District 16-5A on Sept. 27.
