The Odessa High volleyball kept it close throughout the game but in the end, came up short in a four-set loss to Midland Legacy Tuesday night at OHS Fieldhouse.
Beginning the second half of District 2-6A play, the Lady Rebels won by scores of 25-20, 17-25, 27-25, 26-24 in a game where both teams battled back and forth throughout.
“It was a battle on both sides,” Legacy head coach Rachel Anglin said. “I’m glad it worked out in our favor.”
The Lady Rebels improved to 24-14 overall and 4-2 in district 2-6A play.
Odessa High fell to 14-11, 1-5.
The game was a night and day difference from the last time both teams met when the Lady Rebels won in straight sets last month.
“Coming out, we knew we had to work,” Odessa High head coach Cody Dominguez said. “We put in the work and Midland Legacy put in the work. We wanted to take a set since we’re in the second round of district. We want to take another win in district play.”
The Lady Bronchos came within one point of forcing a fifth set before Legacy used a quick comeback to take the fourth set and the match.
“That was a good comeback by us,” Anglin said of the fourth set. “Whenever we’re able to execute and play our game, that’s what we expect.”
Odessa High managed to keep things close in the first set.
However, Legacy would clinch the set 25-20.
The Lady Rebels began the second on a 4-2 run.
However, the Lady Bronchos weren’t going down without a fight and soon had a 16-13 lead before a timeout was called.
Odessa High came out of the timeout and got another point to make it a four-point lead.
A kill by Clarissa Rodriguez made it 18-15, Odessa High soon after.
An error by the Lady Rebels on the following play made it another four-point Odessa High lead.
It was 23-16, Odessa High after another Rodriguez kill and the Lady Bronchos soon closed it out to tie things up at 1-1.
“We’ve been stressing it at practices and in the games that how we practice is how we’re going to play,” Dominguez said. “We’re trying to be an aggressive team. We’re trying to be that team that can take set one and set two. We keep on practicing it.”
Both sides continued to keep things close in the third set.
A Lady Broncho kill gave the hosts a 9-8 lead before a block by Legacy’s Kimberly Rabe tied it back up.
Odessa High went on a 4-1 run to take a 13-10 lead.
However, Legacy responded with a 7-3 run.
The set would come down to the wire with both teams tied up at 21.
A block by Odessa High’s Haylee Caballero tied the game up at 24.
However, Legacy would go on to take the set, 27-25.
The two teams continued to go back and forth in the fourth set as Odessa High squeezed past for a 20-18 lead.
A kill by Gabriela Padron made it 22-20, Odessa High.
A kill by Legacy’s Taylro Martinez brought the visitors to a 23-22 deficit.
With OHS needing one more point, at 24-22, Legacy pulled on back to make it another one-point set.
The Lady Rebels used a 2-0 run to take a 25-24 lead.
The Lady Rebels took the next point and the set, and the match.
“OHS came out swinging,” Anglin said. “We made some adjustments. Our girls came back and fought even harder, so I’m proud of them for that.”
Legacy will next face Permian at 5 p.m. Friday in Midland.
“They’re going to be a tough team,” Anglin said. “Everyone in our district is tough. We get them at home, but that doesn’t really matter because anywhere you play them, they’re going to be a tough team.”
OHS will face San Angelo Central at 5 p.m. Friday at OHS Fieldhouse, another team that swept the Lady Bronchos the last time they met.
“I’m looking forward to showing a different team than the last one that played Central,” Dominguez said.
