Tigerettes lose VB district opener

Jacksboro’s varsity volleyballers came in to their Sept. 8 District 7-3A opener on a bit of a high note, having won three of their last four matches.

A tough Nocona squad loomed large to open the loop festivities at Tiger Gym. Playing a tough non-district schedule obviously helped the Tigerettes as Jacksboro gave the visitors all they wanted in a nearly two-hour match before succumbing 25-16, 27-29, 25-18, 16-25, 15-13.

Jacksboro goes to 7-5 overall with the setback, the squad’s second straight.

Nocona got out to a quick lead in game one, the lady Indians jumping out to a 6-1 lead. A threepoint Teegan Reynolds serve with some help from a Reynolds kill, cutting the lead to 7-9. Nocona pushed the lead to 16-8 and the Tigerettes got no closer than five the rest of the way.

Down 9-14 in game two, Jacksboro began a comeback that commenced with a three-point Alex Holman serving run to get the deficit within 12-14. The Tigerettes then broke serve and used a fourpoint string by Holman to give the squad a 17-16 lead and force Nocona into a timeout.

The squads exchanged points, a pair from Harlee Richardson to take a 21- 19 lead. The teams broke each other serve to set up extra time, Rhett Rollans coming through with a kill and a dink to keep the Tigerettes alive. A Holman kill broke a 27-all tie and a Nocona kill attempt going long gave jacksboro the game two victory.

Sparked by the win, Holman opened game three on fire with a kill to break serve followed by a six-point skein. Frontcourt help from a Reynolds kill and a Rollans block forced a Nocona timeout down 7-0.

Richardson then rolled off three with freshman Kylie Tullous adding another trio to put the lead at 13-4. The Tigerettes Single points by Reynolds, Harlee Richardson and a Lilli Gonzales ace on game point put the Tigerettes up 2-1 in the best-of-five match.

A pair of Holman kills helped Reynolds get Jacksboro within 5-6 in game four. Holman’s ace got the squad within 9-10 but it was all Nocona late, the Tigerettes coming through with just one serving point late.

In game five, Nocona got out to a 9-4 lead but Makenna McAnear’s kill and a pair by Harlee Richardsoncut there lead 8-10. Gonzales cut the deficit to 10-11 with Holmnan’s kill just inside the line keeping Jacksboro within striking distance at 11-12.

It wasn’t to be as Nocona finished the job. The Tigerettes remained at home Saturday to face Breckenridge (see details, same section)