In a season already filled with firsts for Harts Bluff Early College High School, the Lady Bulldog volleyball team had another one to add to a rapidly growing list.
Monday night, the Lady Bulldogs played in the school’s first ever playoff game, taking on Ore City in the bi-district round at Pittsburg’s Jack Arnwine Gymnasium. The Lady Rebels finished second in district behind James Bowie, came into the night on a four-match winning streak, including a win over the district champion Lady Pirates and had beaten Garrison in a warm-up match Friday.
Harts Bluff wasn’t just happy to be there. The Lady Bulldogs wanted to make a statement.
Harts Bluff did just that – not only advancing to their first-ever playoffs and not only playing their first-ever playoff game, but winning a five set thriller over the Lady Rebels, 3-2 (2225, 25-20, 14-25, 28-26, 15-13) for their first playoff win in school history.
Ore City had match point on two separate occasions in the fourth set, but the Lady Bulldogs battled, determined to make that statement. They would come back to win the fourth set and came out on top in a fifth set where Ore City took a four point lead.
“My heart’s just exploding for them,” said Head Coach Sivi Cheek. “They played their hearts out. We were facing the wall and had to fight back and we did it. That will make us better and I’m so proud of them and their fight.”
Harts Bluff lived up to their team motto of “Hold the Rope,” Coach Cheek said. The team does so – literally and figuratively.
“It means everyone stepping up to do their part,” she said. “We have a rope that’s our 11th man (HB has 10 players on the roster) and it goes to classrooms and goes home with our players. They trade it out and pass it to each other. Someone always has it. It’s a reminder that we all have to do our part and hold their part of the rope for their teammates.”
The Lady Bulldogs and Lady Rebels played earlier this year in the Hughes Springs Tournament with Ore City hanging on for a tight 2-1 win.
“We didn’t have everyone in that first matchup,” Coach Cheek said. “They were a lot better than they were in that tournament and we were, too. We just kept working hard each day to get better. That’s what put us here.”
In the first set, Ore City jumped out to a 3-1 lead, but kills by Kaitley Green and Yaretzi “YaYa” Sanchez helped eventually tie the set at 6-6. A block by Green gave Harts Bluff their first playoff lead, 7-6, and Harts Bluff was the first to double digits in the set when Kaylee Clay got a return on a diving dig that caught Ore City by surprise. Ore City went on a run with a kill and an ace to give them a 12-10 lead in the set. A block by Alexis Gonzalez pulled Harts Bluff closer, but the Lady Rebels took a seven point lead, 20-13. The Lady Bulldogs battled back with two kills by Green, a block by Sanchez and an ace from Alexa Arzate that tied the score at 20-20. A kill by Ally Cook put Harts Bluff within one point late, but the Lady Rebels ended the set with a kill and a block to claim the opener.
Harts Bluff kicked off the second set with two aces by Green in the first three points before Ore City scored the next four points. A kill by Gonzalez gave the Lady Bulldogs the lead back before the teams traded points. Harts Bluff pulled out to a four point lead after aces by Allie Mayfield, Anay Solorio and Clay and maintained it by following consecutive kills by the Lady Rebels by taking advantage of two hits into the net by Ore City and a kill by Gonzalez. Harts Bluff kept control of the set with kills by Anay Solorio and aces by Green and Gonzalez. Ore City battled back at 23-16, pulling within 23-19, but a return into the net and a crossing the net call against the Lady Rebels gave Harts Bluff their first set win in the playoffs.
Harts Bluff jumped out to the lead in the third set before Ore City tied things up. Tied at 4-4, an ace by Mayfield gave the Lady Bulldogs the lead, but a Lady Rebel run gave Ore City an 11-5 lead. Two kills by Sanchez and a kill by Mayfield pulled Harts Bluff closer. An ace by Clay put Harts Bluff down seven but Ore City finished the third set strong for the win.
Prior to the start of the fourth set, Harts Bluff ’s Gonzalez and Ore City’s Brynn Richardson shared a laugh as the playoff atmosphere ratcheted up. Ore City took an early 7-3 lead but clutch digs by Kaithlin Le and Perla Solorio and a kill by Sanchez set up two aces from Clay to give Hars Bluff an 11-10 lead. Harts Bluff went on a 4-1 run with two aces by Green and kills by Cook and Gonzalez. Ore City tied things up with a 5-1 run, but kills by Gonzalez and Green, a block by Sanchez and an ace by Gonzalez put Harts Bluff ahead, 21-18. Ore City then went on a 6-1 run to bring up match point.
Le came up with a dig to keep a rally going that led to a Lady Bulldog point, then Arzate came up huge with two consecutive aces to tie the match at 24-24. Ore City got another match point, but a kill by Gonzalez tied things at 25-25. Green notched a kill and Ore City hit out to give Harts Bluff the set.
The fifth set started with an ace by Green and Harts Bluff taking a 3-1 lead before Ore City tied the set. A Lady Rebel run pushed Ore City ahead, 9-5, but Harts Bluff battled back after a timeout to tie the match at 11-11. A kill by Green gave the Lady Bulldogs a 13-12 lead before Ore City tied the match, but the Lady Rebels served into the net to give Harts Bluff match point. A kill from Gonzalez ended the match, sparking celebrations for the blue and gold as the Lady Bulldogs claimed the school’s first UIL playoff win.
“This means tons for our program,” Coach Cheek said. “I’m excited about this team. We have a lot of freshmen who are working hard and learning. These games make us better.”
Coach Cheek said Harts Bluff ’s familial atmosphere is one she’s proud to be a part of.
“I coach with my daughter (assistant coach Niki Cheek) and that’s not something that happens very often,” she said. “Our team celebrates together and we share the burden. That’s what’s gotten us where we are.”
The Lady Bulldogs will look for the upset in the area round as they take on defending state champion and eighth-ranked Beckville. The Lady-Cats are 32-11 on the year. They lost their warm-up match against Class 5A Lufkin and 10 of their 11 losses came to schools in larger classifications. (Beckville lost to Hallsville twice; the LadyCats also lost to Bremond, Bryan Rudder, Forney, Franklin, Cayuga, Spring Hill, Pleasant Grove and Central Heights.) Beckville has only lost one match to a 2A team all year – Aug. 20 against Cayuga.
Every team who has beaten Beckville this season made the playoffs except one. The one that didn’t – Bryan Rudder – still won 30 games on the year. Of the teams that reached the playoffs, all but one – Franklin – did so as their district champion.
The LadyCats defeated Shelbyville in the bi-district round, 3-0 (25-7, 2513, 25-13). Amber Harris led the team with 16 kills, 16 digs and three blocks, Maddie McAfee had two aces, Karsyn Coleman and MJ Liles both had two blocks, Avery Morris had nine kills, a block and 11 digs and Sophie Elliot had 27 assists.
Coach Cheek said her team isn’t going to change anything as they take on Beckville.
“We’re going to keep doing what we’re doing,” she said. “I’m not going to try to change anything. We’re going to keep working hard. You never know what’s going to happen in the playoffs.”
“I’m so proud of this team and the way they fought all night,” said Athletic Director Harland Johns. “Our girls and our coaches never gave up and they were able to make history. It’s big for the volleyball team, big for our program and huge for our school. Getting this opportunity has been great.”