NEW WAVERLY — Now that’s more like it.
The Lady Bulldogs were hoping that their home opener last Friday against North Zulch would’ve gone as well. But better late than never.
The Lady Dogs kicked off district play Tuesday against Groveton, defeating the Lady Indians in three straight games.
“This was a real good way to open district at home,” New Waverly head coach Stacy Hill said. “We kind of have a mini-rivalry with Groveton because we see them a lot in the preseason. We beat them in the Grapeland tournament, but I told them that it doesn’t mean anything unless you beat them today because district is when it counts.
“The girls got real fired up and they played real well.”
The first game went back and forth as neither team could string points together, but after the score was tied at 14, New Waverly started to pull away. The Lady Dogs kept their mistakes to a minimum and took the first game 25-20.
Most of the second game played out like the first one. It was another see-saw battle with neither team being able to hold serve for very long. Being a point away from losing the game at 25-24, the Lady Dogs responded to take the next three points and the game 27-25.
With all the momentum in their favor, the Lady Dogs didn’t want to disappoint the home crowd and they didn’t. New Waverly took the third and decisive game 25-15 to seal the match.
“I think we were all excited that it was our first district game and we were playing at home,” senior Alena Salinas said. “We had all of our girls ready to play. All the girls that came off the bench just did a great job. I think we have a real bright future. As a senior, I’m real happy to see that from our team.”
Another bright spot for the Lady Dogs was the return of senior Mallory Eastland, who missed the nondistrict portion of the season with a recurring knee injury.
“After all the knee surgeries and all the rehab, it’s so rewarding to be back out there playing,” said Eastland, who has battled knee injuries since her sophomore year. “It still hurts, but not when I play. It hurts before I go in and when I come out, but I don’t feel it when I’m out there.
“Pain is something that I’m going to have to live with. But I wouldn’t trade it for anything just as long as I get to play. I think it’ll take a while for me to get playing how I want to, but it’s like riding a bike. Once you get going, you don’t think about what to do, you just do it.”
Eastland was effective coming off the bench and helped the Lady Dogs with 12 kills and two blocks.
“Mallory Eastland had a great debut,” Hill said. “I couldn’t have asked for better on her first game back. She didn’t start and hasn’t had a whole bunch of practice with us, but she did really, really well.”
Salinas totaled eight kills, two blocks and four assists. Kayla Munoz contributed five kills. Chelsea Little and Brianna LeFlore each had four kills.
Alex Abbott had a hand in many of New Waverly’s points as she assisted on 23 of them.
The Lady Bulldogs return to action Thursday at the Alpha Omega Academy tournament in Huntsville. New Waverly will play five matches Thursday, with the first one taking place at 9 a.m.
In early action Tuesday, New Waverly’s junior varsity team got past Groveton 25-18 and 25-20.
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How sweep It Is
Lady Bulldogs beat Groveton in district volleyball opener
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