Lady Lions hang tough in volleyball opener
August 12, 2009

By DAVID CLAYBOURN
Herald-Banner Staff

	Photo By David Claybourn/ Herald-Banner Staff Kayce Bullock of Caddo Mills gets a hand on this shot by Greenville’s Meghan Litchfield during Tuesday night’s match in Caddo Mills. Caddo Mills won in five games.

CADDO MILLS -- After Princeton swept Greenville in three games it looked like the Lady Lions were in for a tough time with Caddo Mills in the final match of Tuesday’s volleyball tripleheader.

After all, Caddo Mills had opened the tripleheader with a four-game victory over Princeton, the team that swept Greenville, 25-22, 25-14, 25-21, in match No. 2. Caddo Mills outlasted Princeton, 25-23, 23-25, 28-26, 26-24.

But Greenville hung much tougher than expected against Caddo Mills, pushing the Lady Foxes to five games before losing a squeaker in the Caddo Mills gymnasium.

Caddo Mills prevailed, 21-25, 25-16, 22-25, 25-16, 15-13 in a match that ended at 10:20 p.m. The Lady Lions pushed their Hunt County neighbors to the limit in the first night of action in the 2009 season.

After Maddie Chandler produced a big shot at the net for Caddo Mills to give the Lady Foxes a 14-11 lead in game five, the Lady Lions dodged two match points when a Caddo Mills serve sailed long and a Caddo Mills shot sailed wide.

But Breann Whitaker kept her cool for Caddo Mills on an overhead bump shot that the Lady Lions couldn’t handle and just like that the match was over.

Whitaker produced some key kills and sets for the Lady Foxes, finishing with 17 kills and 18 assists. Whitaker won three straight points for the Lady Foxes with a quick set and two kills to put Caddo Mills ahead 8-3 early in game five. She also helped the Lady Foxes win some key points at 10-6 and 12-8.

Hannah Horton put away some big kills for Caddo Mills in game two, finishing with 12 kills and seven assists.

Meghan Litchfield led Greenville in the Caddo Mills match with nine kills. Morgan Bloyed finished with five kills and a couple of blocks. Ashley Abbott added four kills and T.J. Holmes and Hannah Johnson both chipped in three kills.

Abbott led Greenville in the match against Princeton with five kills. Bloyed and Litchfield both finished with four kills. Emelie Kilgore led in blocks with four and Shanterria Riley served for a team-high four aces.

Whitaker led Caddo Mills against Princeton with 24 assists and Horton put away 13 kills.