Volleyball: Monahans dominates Wylie, headed to state

LEVELLAND There’s no surprise left when Monahans High School’s volleyball team qualifies for the UIL State Championships.

But it’s rarely easy, which made the accomplishment mean a little bit more for this Lady Loboes team.

Monahans dug out of tough spots more than once Saturday while knocking off Abilene Wylie 22-25, 25-15, 25-21, 25-18 in the championship match of the Region I-3A Volleyball Tournament.

With the match tied 1-1 in sets, Wylie led 16-8 in the third and looked very capable of running away with the victory. But Monahans (39-5) staged a big rally and then turned on the afterburners with the score tied 12-12 in the fourth.

“Guts — that’s what it comes down to,” said Monahans senior Kristi Holly, who was an all-tournament selection after recording eight kills and three blocks in the final. “We knew that we wanted it more and we had to show them that. It was really hard, but we did a good job of staying focused and playing as a team.”

Consequently, the Lady Loboes advanced to the Class 3A state tournament for the sixth time since 2002. Over this eight-year span, they’ve only failed to make the regional tournament once — last season — and they’ve only lost the regional final in 2006.

Wylie (37-8), though just a second-year program, had pushed Monahans to a five-set match earlier this season and was playing the kind of defense that wins regional championships.

Also, Bailey Wilson had 15 kills, Kylie Jenkins had 10 and Natalie Davis had nine to give Wylie a multi-faceted attack that was tough for Monahans to slow down.

Monahans worked back from the 16-8 deficit, however, and then closed out the match after the 12-12 tie in the fourth set behind seven kills, two aces and one block. Shelbi Cornelius had three of her match-high 16 kills during the closing run, Kali Lewis — also an all-tournament selection — had two of her 12, tournament MVP Amy Rose had one kill and one ace, Erin Fisher had a kill while Feleena Graves had an ace and Kati Holly had a solo block.

“They’re learning that they have that in themselves,” Monahans head coach Patty Dominguez said of the comebacks. “They just have to make up their mind that they want it and that they’re going to fight and battle for every ball. To actually be able to battle back from that speaks volumes.”

It’ll help the Lady Loboes be heard Friday and Saturday in the UIL Class 3A State Championships at Texas State University’s Strahan Coliseum in San Marcos. They’ll join defending champ Lucas Lovejoy, longtime nemesis Wimberley and returning power Caldwell.

It took a little bit of everything for the Lady Loboes, who had three attackers in double figures — Rose had 13 kills in addition to a team-high 23 digs — and got 10 team blocks to help hinder Wylie’s strong attackers.

But from Tuesday’s five-set victory against Dalhart to Saturday’s comeback effort — with sweeps against Brownwood in the area round and Burnet in the regional semifinals, as well — Monahans churned along in a new way to an old tune.

“It was a little shaky at first, I’m not going to lie,” said senior libero Shelbi Najar, who had 21 digs. “But we’re fighters. We know that sometimes there’s bumps in the road, but we’re going to overcome them. I wish we didn’t, but I know that if we do, we’ll know how to overcome it.”

Monahans def. Abilene Wylie

22-25, 25-15, 25-21, 25-18

REGION I-3A VOLLEYBALL TOURNAMENT

Championship

At Levelland High School

Kills – Monahans: Shelbi Cornelius 16, Amy Rose 13, Kali Lewis 12, Kristi Holly 8, Erin Fisher 3, Kati Holly 2. Abilene Wylie: Bailey Wilson 15, Kylie Jenkins 10, Natalie Davis 9, Allison Phillips 5, Bradi Wilson 1, Michelle Lytle 1.

Assists – Monahans: Erin Fisher 46, Shelbi Cornelius 2, Kati Holly 1, Kali Lewis 1. Abilene Wylie: Bradi Wilson 18, Ali Hayes 16.

Blocks – Monahans: Kati Holly 4.5, Kristi Holly 3, Kali Lewis 2.5, Amy Rose 1, Shelbi Cornelius .5, Erin Fisher .5. Abilene Wylie: Michelle Lytle 1.5, Kylie Jenkins 1, Allison Phillips 1, Caroline Peterson .5, Natalie Davis .5, Bradi Wilson .5.

Digs – Monahans: Kati Holly 4, Kristi Holly 1, Shelbi Cornelius 16, Amy Rose 23, Kali Lewis 6, Erin Fisher 13, Michelle Azuaje 15, Shelbi Najar 21, Feleena Graves 13, Dezi Johnson 1.

Aces – Monahans: Amy Rose 2, Erin Fisher 1, Feleena Graves 1. Abilene Wylie: Bailey Wilson 1, Miranda Gillum 1, Storey Deshazo 1, Ali Hayes 1.

Service points – Monahans: Amy Rose 11, Erin Fisher 8, Shebi Najar 7, Shelbi Cornelius 6, Michelle Azuaje 6, Feleena Graves 5, Dezi Johnson 2. Abilene Wylie: Miranda Gillum 10, Kelsey Browning 6, Bradi Wilson 6, Storey Deshazo 5, Bailey Wilson 5, Ali Hayes 1.

Records

Monahans 39-5; Abilene Wylie 37-8.