Despite showing fight throughout the contest, the Permian volleyball team was swept by Midland Legacy Tuesday at the Permian Fieldhouse.
The Lady Rebels defeated the Lady Panthers 25-13, 25-15, 25-17 to stay undefeated in District 2-6A play and keep their hold of the top spot in the district standings.
“They kept digging and we just have to find ways to put the ball down,” Permian head coach Gillian Herrera said. “[Legacy] has a good block, a big block, and they make you play a lot of defense.”
Herrera felt that her team did well in keeping the ball off its own floor, but needs to figure out how to turn that to an effective offensive attack.
The play of both liberos, Permian’s Anyssa Cruz and Midland Legacy’s Sydney Leavitt, stood out as they were able to keep the ball alive throughout multiple points in the match.
Cruz led the Lady Panthers with 14 digs in the match and Leavitt recorded 36.
A missed opportunity stood out early for Permian (26-13 overall, 3-5 district), as it had the Lady Rebels with their backs against the wall early in the first set when it built a 9-5 lead after starting the match down on the scoreboard.
Midland Legacy (27-10, 9-0) recovered quickly from the early deficit by outscoring Permian 20-4 to win the first set, taking advantage of attacking errors from the Lady Panthers.
The momentum followed the visitors into the second set, as they were able to get out to a quick 6-0 advantage.
Midland Legacy held on to the lead throughout the entire second set, but the Lady Panthers were able to find some holes in the Lady Rebels defensive positioning.
Permian would cut Midland Legacy’s lead down to five, but the Lady Rebels had a reply for everything the Lady Panthers would dish out offensively.
A 4-0 scoring run would help the Lady Rebels put the second set away, leading to a strong finishing touch in the third set.
Once Midland Legacy got the lead, it wouldn’t surrender it to sweep the Lady Panthers on the road.
Midland Legacy coach Rachel Anglin said she tries to lower the pressure on her players by refraining from talking about its undefeated streak.
“They have that goal that they’ve set for themselves as a team and I think that’s what motivates them by themselves,” Anglin said. “They’re very motivated within the team.”
Jade Workman led Permian with 26 assists and nine kills, while Nyxalee Munoz and Anahi Orona had four kills each.
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Midland Legacy def. Permian
25-13, 25-15, 25-17
Tuesday at Permian Fieldhouse
Kills — Midland Legacy: Loredana Fouonji 14, Callie McCright 10, Kendall Harrington 7, Christallynn Tate 6, Jordyn Tarter 2, Hyla Riley 1. Permian: Jade Workman 9, Nyxalee Munoz 4, Anahi Orona 4, Sarahi Orona 2, Riley Nichols 2, Denali Cardenas 1.
Blocks — Midland Legacy: Tate 6, Fouonji 5, McCright 4, Harrington 3, Riley 2.
Assists — Midland Legacy: Yani Flores 19, Harrington 18, Alejandra Garcia 1, Sydney Leavitt 1, Fouonji 1. Permian: Cardenas 12, Workman 5, Anyssa Cruz 1.
Digs — Midland Legacy: Leavitt 36, Haley Robinson 11, Harrington 9, Marisa Calzada 6, Flores 5, Hailey Clark 3, Garcia 3, McCright 2, Tate 2, Kylee Radwanski 1, Riley 1, Tarter 1. Permian: Cruz 14, Iliana Garcia 9, Munoz 7, Cardenas 6, Workman 6, Sarahi Orona 4, Nichols 2, Cianna Harris 1.
Aces — Midland Legacy: Flores 3, Robinson 2, Harrington 1, Leavitt 1.
Records
Midland Legacy 27-10 overall, 9-0 District 2-6A; Permian 26-13, 3-5.
