Lady Tigers gut out home opening win
The Lady Tiger bench erupts in cheers after Wills Point rallied to pull out a 15-25, 26-24, 25-23, 20-25, 15-9 home win Aug. 16.
The Wills Point Lady Tigers showed flashes of just how dangerous they could be during the 2016 season, battling back from the brink in their home opener for a 15-25, 26-24, 25-23, 20-25, 15-9 win against Commerce Aug. 16.
Commerce gave Wills Point everything it could handle and more during the first set of the match, turning back numerous Lady Tiger kill attempts to cruise to an easy 25-15 lead.
Wills Point played more competitively throughout much of the second set but still trailed 24-21 with a two sets to none deficit looming large. The Lady Tigers kept their composure however, battling back from a nearly insurmountable deficit by running off a string of five consecutive points to take the set 26-24 and even the match at one set apiece.
The third set was played in fits and starts, with each team managing small streaks of excellent play followed by miscues and mishits. Leading 24-23 in the set, Wills Point received a fortunate call on a Commerce ball that appeared to fall just in along the sideline but was called out. After some discussion between the line judge and the match official, the Lady Tigers were given the point and a two sets to one lead.
Commerce came roaring back in the fourth set, once again putting together and excellent defensive stretch to take a 25-20 set.
Wills Point wouldn’t be denied during the fifth and final set, seizing control early behind a strong service game to close out the match with a 15-25, 26-24, 25-23, 20-25, 15-9 win.
Fresh off their first home match of the season against Commerce, the Wills Point Lady Tigers will once again get to enjoy the comforts of home Aug. 19-20 when they play host to 14 other teams for the annual Hardman Invitational Varsity Tournament.
The Hardman Invitational Tournament will be broken down into two separate segments, with all teams competing in pool play Aug. 19 before competing in either the Championship or Consolation Bracket Aug. 20.
Tournament participants are scheduled to include Crandall, Kaufman JV, Terrell, Forney, Commerce, Overton, Texas High, Kaufman, Sulphur Springs, Van, Greenville, Paris, Mount Pleasant, Mineola, as well as both the Wills Point varsity and JV teams.
The Wills Point Lady Tiger varsity, competing in the Blue Pool Aug. 19, are scheduled to play Crandall at 8 a.m., Terrell and 11 a.m. and the Kaufman JV at 1 p.m.
The Lady Tiger JV, competing in the Red Pool, is scheduled to play Kaufman at 8 a.m., Sulphur Springs at 10 a.m. and Van at noon.
The top two teams in each of the four pools will advance to compete in the Championship Bracket Aug. 20, while the third and fourth place finishers in each pool will compete in the Consolation Bracket.
