The Odessa High volleyball team took its time settling in against Lubbock High Tuesday at the OHS Fieldhouse.
Once the Lady Bronchos assumed control of the match, they never looked back as they finished off a 25-15, 25-14, 25-17, sweep of the Lady Westerners.
It was the penultimate nondistrict game for Odessa High (6-7 overall) and head coach Victoria Smith was encouraged by the performance.
“What we’ve learned throughout the preseason is that it takes all of us from our bench, coaches and everybody out on the floor,” Smith said. “Tonight, we pulled that off consistently throughout the match.”
The Lady Bronchos got off to a strong start by jumping out to a 6-1 advantage to begin the match.
Lubbock High was able to regroup and take advantage of some mistakes by Odessa High to get back within 10-7 midway through the set.
The Lady Bronchos had to deal with their own miscues as well but were able to clean things up and eventually went on a 6-1 run to seize control.
Odessa High closed the set with back-to-back kills from Aubrey Villa as part of a 5-1 closing run.
Villa finished five kills on the night, second to Clarissa Rodriguez who led the team with nine.
Zoelley Herrera led the Lady Bronchos with eight assists and two aces; Clarissa DeLeon added a team-best 13 digs.
“One thing I told them was that we have to focus on our side and what we’re doing throughout the game,” Smith said. “We were going point for point and we also shanked the ball and had to get it back from behind the end line. It was just about focusing on us and cleaning up our game.”
The Lady Westerners took a slim 3-2 lead to begin the second set before one of four kills from Odessa High’s Paige Byford put the Lady Bronchos back in front.
Odessa High began to pull away midway through the second set by turning a 9-7 advantage into a 19-10 lead and not relinquishing the lead after that.
Byford said that the Lady Bronchos were able to take advantage of chances to get points from close range.
“Before the game, we were telling our blockers to stay ready and we just had to make those in game adjustments to get those blocks and those touches,” Byford said.
Byford had four kills, two digs and an ace in the victory.
The final set saw some more back-and-forth swings before Odessa High pulled away.
With the game tied, 5-5, the Lady Bronchos put together two separate 7-1 runs to take a commanding 21-11 advantage.
The Lady Westerners tried to respond with an unanswered five-point run before Odessa High regrouped to seal the match.
Odessa High wraps up nondistrict play against Fort Stockton Sept. 7. District 2-6A play begins Sept. 10 at Wolfforth Frenship.
“When everybody is involved and engaged and hyped up, that’s when we do our best and I think it showed tonight,” Smith said.
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Odessa High def. Lubbock High
25-15, 25-14, 25-17
Tuesday at OHS Fieldhouse
Kills — Odessa High: Clarissa Rodriguez 9, Aubrey Villa 5, Paige Byford 4, Bryanna Ordaz 2, Nadia Hernandez 1.
Blocks — Odessa High: Clarissa Rodriguez 1.
Assists — Odessa High: Zoelley Herrera 8, Clarissa DeLeon 5, Isabela Ordaz 1, Victoria Rodriguez 1.
Digs — Odessa High: Clarissa DeLeon 13, Isabela Ordaz 8, Carime Gonzales 8, Bryanna Ordaz 4, Clarissa Rodriguez 3, Paige Byford 2, Kylee Davis 1, Aubrey Villa 1, Victoria Rodriguez 1.
Aces — Odessa High: Victoria Rodriguez 3, Clarissa Rodriguez 2, Zoelley Herrera 2, Bryanna Ordaz 1, Paige Byford 1.
Records
Odessa High 6-7.
Sub-Varsity
JV: Odessa High def. Lubbock High, 25-19, 25-15.
