Lady Dogs fall to Shiner in area round of playoffs
The Thorndale Lady Dogs (14-9) fell to Shiner in the area round of the Class 2A volleyball playoffs on Tuesday night at Smithville High School.
It was a tight might throughout, with several lead changes.
Thorndale fell 22-25 and 24-26 in the first two games, and then fought back to take the third game 25-21. The Lady Comanche then grabbed the fourth game 25-19 to advance and end the Lady Dogs’ season.
Kyndal Robinson put down 18 kills, nine assists, five digs and two blocks in Thorndale’s effort with Natalie Newton pounding out 11 kills, two blocks and two digs. Abby Dickerson put up 20 assists, five digs and a kill, while Landri Martinka pulled out 20 digs, two assists and an ace.
Kinley Meadors, Raeghan Carlson and Tristyn Buchanan each recorded five kills on the night. Meadors also had 10 blocks, three digs and an assists; Carlson added four blocks and four digs; and Buchanan also put down three blocks.
Emily Reeves collected four kills, two digs and a block, with Saryn Peel adding nine assists, four digs and an ace. Ashley Pesl pulled out six digs and three assists.
Lady Dogs head coach Angel Raines saw her team have to work through a lot this season and said she is proud of the effort the players put forth after the loss on Tuesday.
“I am really proud of my girls for fighting through adversity and how much they grew this season. They fought for everything tonight and didn’t quit playing when they were down,” Coach Raines said. “We did have some moments that showed our team youth but they laid what they had on the floor, which is what I asked for.”
Thorndale got to the area round after defeating Somerville in straight sets on Thursday night in first round of playoff action.
The Lady Dogs swept the Lady Yeguas 25-19, 25-17 and 25-15.
Robinson put down 13 kills, five assists, five digs and two digs, while Buchanan added seven digs, two blocks, two digs or an assist. Meadors recorded six kills, four aces, three blocks and a dig.
Dickerson set up 16 assists, four digs and an ace, with Martinka pulled out 14 digs and an assist. Reeves put down four kills and a block, with Peel adding six digs, five assists and an ace. Pesl pulled out seven digs and two aces, with Newton adding two kills and two blocks. Cadence Weidler pulled out two digs; Carlson had a kill and a dig; and Kassidy Eubanks added a dig.
Thorndale’s roster includes two seniors in Ashley Pesl and Cadence Weidler.
“We are extremely thankful for our two seniors, Ashley and Cadence, and for all they have done for our team this season on and off the court,” Coach Raines said. “Losing is never fun nor is it easy but our greatest lessons come from failure and I can only hope that we can grow from this experience and help them in every sport and in the long run. I am grateful for my team and that they allow me to push them to be better players as well as people.”
The Lady Dogs finished second in the District 25-2A.