The 29-8 Tioga Lady Bulldogs volleyball team ended their regular season Oct. 24 against the 27-11 Whitewright Lady Tigers in a match to decide the district championship, with the Lady Tigers winning 3-1.
The two talented squads met in a packed gym and went toe-to-toe, with each set going down to the wire, but Whitewright was able to hold in the end to take the win.
“It’s tough to lose when there’s so much on the line, but we played a good game,” Tioga head volleyball coach Trevin Robinson said. “… There were moments where we had chances to maybe change a set here or there. In the second and fourth sets, we had set point twice, but it didn’t work out our way [and] that’s part of it. We talked in the locker room after the game and said, ‘Hey, it’s a little bit bigger than volleyball; how can we learn from what happened?’ but I’m so proud of these girls.”
Whitewright hit the hardwood in full gear, racing out to an early 8-1 lead, but Tioga used the energy from its raucous home crowd to battle back into the set, cutting the Lady Tigers’ lead to 18-16 midway through the game’s opening period.
The two teams continued to trade opening round punches, with the Lady Tigers staggering the Lady Bulldogs and taking the first set 25-22.
The Lady Bulldogs turned the tables on their opponent in the second set, jumping out to a 14-6 lead midway through the period, but the Lady Tigers rebounded, tying the score at 15 all.
The two teams again continued to trade blows throughout the period, finding themselves tied multiple times, until Whitewright was able to pull away and win the second set 28-26.
Down 2-0 and back into a corner, the Lady Bulldogs came out swinging in the third set, winning 2519.
The fourth and final set continued to be just as hotly contested as the others, with the two teams being tied at 7 in the early portion of the set.
The Lady Tigers jumped out to a 6-point lead midway through the period, but the Lady Bulldogs fought their way back into the set, taking a late 23-21 lead.
The two teams once again traded haymakers until the Lady Tigers were the last ones standing, taking the win 27-25 and the 2A Region II District 10 Championship.
“I want to give [Whitewright] all the respect in the world,” Robinson said. “They run a quicker offense, and that isn’t something we’ve seen much in district. They’re a really good team, and they played us well.”
Despite the loss, Robinson said he was proud of the resilience his team showed on the floor.
“They’re a close group, and that stuff shows in big moments, and tonight was a huge moment,” he said. “They had so many chances where they could have said, ‘Hey, let’s just be done,’ but they care so much about each other they kept fighting, and that’s what I’m the most proud of.”
With the contest being Tioga’s final home game of the season, seniors Kenzee Powers and Madison McDonald were honored for their contributions to the program in front of their family, friends and peers.
“I’ve been here my whole life, and just being able to grow up with all these people and build connections that you probably couldn’t get anywhere else and know that everyone has your back, no matter what … that’s what I love about our small town,” Powers said. “… Seeing all these people come out to every game this year was just unbelievable.”
McDonald echoed her teammates’ sentiments and spoke highly of the way the Tioga community showed up for the Lady Bulldogs.
“We had so much support tonight,” she said. “It was really great that our community came and showed out for us, and we always feel so loved when we have a big crowd and everyone is cheering for you. Even though we didn’t get the outcome that we wanted, you could still feel the energy, and you could still feel that everyone was proud of us.”
Lady Bulldogs Kyndall Whitley elevates to poke the ball over the outstretched arms of two Lady Tiger defenders during Tioga’s match with Whitewright on Oct. 24.Whitewright defeated Tioga 3-1. Martin Edwards/The Post-Signal
