Bryson sweeps past Graford

BRYSON – So much for state rankings.

Graford’s volleyball team brought a No.12 ranking in the latest Class A Texas Girls Coaches Association poll into Cowboy Gym Sept. 13. Unranked Bryson, a preseason No.3 pick by the same organization, was unfazed by the visitors’ ranking and delivered a solid performance in defeating the Lady Rabbits 25-13, 25-18, 25-14.

Bryson goes to 1512 with the victory with Graford dropping to 13-9. Cowgirl Coach Kim Vela said the keys to the win were really well executed.

“We knew who to serve to,” Vela said after the 61-minute match. “Our serve receive was also good, holding them to one serve and getting the ball back.”

Bryson did that very well for most of the evening, sans for a pair of runs in game two by the visitors. Bryson stormed out to a 22-6 lead in the game but a three-point string by Jayce Houser and a six-point run by Ashley Crawford made things interesting as Graford got within 18-24. Bryson broke serve, and ended the game, on a kill by senior Riley Valliant.

When the Cowgirls needed offense Tuesday night, Emery Fisher came through. In game one she had a three-point string to give the Cowgirls a 5-3 lead. Up 11-9 in the opener, Bryson broke serve and Fisher came through again with a nine-point string to break the game wide open for a 21-9 lead. Even a pair of timeouts couldn’t stem the tide.

Freshman Morgan Eberle closed out the game with a pair.

Fisher rolled off eight straight in game two, including consecutive aces to close to take a 13-1 lead. Fisher received front court help from a Valliant block and a kill from senior Allie Orr. Valliant aided the offensive cause with four straight with Orr adding a pair, helped by an Adi Louder kill, for a 22-6 lead.

Tracy Hauger opened the finale with a four-point run. Louder’s kill and a nifty lunge from Valliant kept the Lady Rabbits from mounting a comeback. Three Eberle tallies extended the lead to 10-3 and forced a Graford respite.

Fisher’s four-point string put the lead into double figures at 19-8 and the Cowgirls closed things out from there.