The Pilot Point Lady Cats volleyball team has hit the hardwood firing on all cylinders to open the 2026 season and earned their second win of the season by beating the Grayson Christian Lady Falcons three sets to two Aug. 14.
The two clubs traded wins in the first four sets before the Lady Cats clawed their way from behind in the fifth and final set to take the win.
“It was a very competitive match,” Pilot Point head volleyball coach Jessica Ledbetter said. “That’s a strong program, and they had some very talented athletes, [but] when we started adjusting, we were able to play competitively with them, so I’m very proud of my front row because their number 19, [Jovi Morrison], was good and our blockers absolutely combated her.”
The Lady Cats pounced on their opponent, taking the first set 25-14 before the Lady Falcons evened the series by winning the second set 25-17.
Sets 3 and 4 were much closer affairs, with Pilot Point winning the third set 25-22 and Grayson Christian taking the fourth set 25-23, tying the match.
The Lady Cats fell behind 8-0 in the fifth set before they found their footing, battling their way back to take the lead 15-14.
Instead of running a set for the team’s leading scorer, senior middle blocker Alliyah Smith, the Lady Cats ran a play for one of their newest faces, freshman outside hitter Lola Dixon.
“We usually slide out with Alliyah, but I was thinking, ‘I cannot let my team down, so if the ball comes to me, I just need to put it down,’” she said.
And “put the ball down” she did, with Dixon finding a gap in the Lady Falcons’ defense to give the Lady Cats the win 1614.
“I’m proud of myself,” she said. “If you’re a freshman, you can come out nervous, but that’s one thing I didn’t do. If I had been too nervous, I probably would’ve hit it out of bounds, but I kept my confidence and helped get the win.”
Setter duo, junior Darbi Smalskas and freshman Reese Chandler, combined for 41 assists, while Smith led the Lady Cats with 16 kills, followed by senior middle blocker McKayla Rushing, who had 12 kills.
Dixon and senior outside hitter Shannon Taylor also added 9 kills apiece.
Smith, who was locked in a battle with the Lady Falcons’ top player Morrison for most of the night, shared her thoughts on the win.
“It seemed like she was getting a touch on every hit I got, and it was really getting me down, but after I got out of my head, I found a way to make it work, and I feel like that’s what you have to do sometimes; find something that works and stick with it,” she said.
Smith added that she hopes that the win helps the Lady Cats’ confidence going forward this season.
“As of right now, we’re undefeated, so we’re hoping that stays, but we’re just hoping we can keep up the energy and stick together as a team,” she said.
The Lady Cats took their first loss of the season, losing to the S&S Consolidated Lady Rams three sets to one Tuesday night, but will look to rebound on the road against Trenton at 6:30 p.m. Friday at Trenton High School.
