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A Cut Above: Plano hitters fire away, sweep Richardson in playoff opener
BY Matt Welch, mwelch@starlocalnews.com
DALLAS -- The Plano Senior volleyball team's first playoff win since 2009 couldn't have gone more according to plan.
The Lady Wildcats received contributions in all facets of Tuesday's bi-district tilt against Richardson -- including their most lopsided set win of the season -- en route to sweeping the Lady Eagles (25-16, 25-6, 25-16) from Lake Highlands High School.
"The kids were actually a little nervous about stepping out on the court tonight," said Teri Minnis, Plano head coach. "It's been a while since they've been in that situation but they shook off those nerves and played really well."
The Lady Wildcats may have to look far and wide over the 2012 season film to find a set more imposing than the 25-6 second-set decision dealt Richardson's way on Tuesday.
Plano converted just 10 kills during the stanza, ironically its lowest kill total of the night. That was because the points came from all avenues opposite the Lady Eagles, setting the tone from the opening serves with two tandem blocks from Plano juniors Natalie Fazio and Aubrey Davis. Totaling four blocks in the set, Plano added four aces and capitalized on six Richardson errors.
During the set, Plano strung together runs of 5-0, 4-0, 4-0 and 8-0.
"We've had a couple of those (sets) this year and I keep wanting to get back to that," Minnis said. "We got there tonight and hopefully we can continue to build on that."
An aggressive serving team by nature, the Lady Wildcats totaled 13 aces on the night including three within the team's first eight points of the match.
"[Our serving] was a little shaky in the first set," Minnis said, "but once we settled down and started hitting our zones, we really put the pressure on them."
Fazio chipped in two of those early aces to pace an 8-3 start by Plano, while the Lady Wildcat hitters enjoyed a round of target practice opposite the Richardson defense.
Digs were scarce for the Lady Eagles early on, with Plano posting 15 of its 38 kills in the first set. Senior Sam Seal led the overall effort with 10 kills, while senior Madison Morell chipped in nine and junior Kylie Long added eight.
The Plano offensive broke down a 15-12 lead which ballooned into 21-13 and eventually the 25-16 final following a Richardson attack error.
"We did a good job and knew coming in that we'd have to attack the ball down the line," Minnis said, "and attack the ball to their right side of the court. We practiced it yesterday and today, came in and executed it well."
Richardson was paced by five kills from junior Erin Terry and four from junior Rachel Fleming. The tandem teamed up for five of the Lady Eagles' team-high nine kills in the third set; a frame that saw Richardson open up an early 5-3 advantage.
That was the most the Lady Eagles would lead by all evening, while Plano was quick to counter with a 5-0 run capped by a Fazio ace for an 8-5 lead they would never relinquish.
Senior Ally Birkett added a pair of aces while Fazio, Morell and Seal posted four kills apiece in building a 20-11 advantage.
Despite trimming that lead to 21-16, errors again proved Richardson's undoing down the stretch with four consecutive errors equating Plano's final four points to complete the sweep.
The Lady Wildcats will advance to the area round, returning to action Friday at 6 p.m. from Garland Naaman Forest against District 11-5A Champion Rowlett, which swept Mesquite in its bi-district opener.
For continued news and coverage on the local sports scene, follow @MWelchSCN on Twitter.
The Lady Wildcats received contributions in all facets of Tuesday's bi-district tilt against Richardson -- including their most lopsided set win of the season -- en route to sweeping the Lady Eagles (25-16, 25-6, 25-16) from Lake Highlands High School.
"The kids were actually a little nervous about stepping out on the court tonight," said Teri Minnis, Plano head coach. "It's been a while since they've been in that situation but they shook off those nerves and played really well."
The Lady Wildcats may have to look far and wide over the 2012 season film to find a set more imposing than the 25-6 second-set decision dealt Richardson's way on Tuesday.
Plano converted just 10 kills during the stanza, ironically its lowest kill total of the night. That was because the points came from all avenues opposite the Lady Eagles, setting the tone from the opening serves with two tandem blocks from Plano juniors Natalie Fazio and Aubrey Davis. Totaling four blocks in the set, Plano added four aces and capitalized on six Richardson errors.
During the set, Plano strung together runs of 5-0, 4-0, 4-0 and 8-0.
"We've had a couple of those (sets) this year and I keep wanting to get back to that," Minnis said. "We got there tonight and hopefully we can continue to build on that."
An aggressive serving team by nature, the Lady Wildcats totaled 13 aces on the night including three within the team's first eight points of the match.
"[Our serving] was a little shaky in the first set," Minnis said, "but once we settled down and started hitting our zones, we really put the pressure on them."
Fazio chipped in two of those early aces to pace an 8-3 start by Plano, while the Lady Wildcat hitters enjoyed a round of target practice opposite the Richardson defense.
Digs were scarce for the Lady Eagles early on, with Plano posting 15 of its 38 kills in the first set. Senior Sam Seal led the overall effort with 10 kills, while senior Madison Morell chipped in nine and junior Kylie Long added eight.
The Plano offensive broke down a 15-12 lead which ballooned into 21-13 and eventually the 25-16 final following a Richardson attack error.
"We did a good job and knew coming in that we'd have to attack the ball down the line," Minnis said, "and attack the ball to their right side of the court. We practiced it yesterday and today, came in and executed it well."
Richardson was paced by five kills from junior Erin Terry and four from junior Rachel Fleming. The tandem teamed up for five of the Lady Eagles' team-high nine kills in the third set; a frame that saw Richardson open up an early 5-3 advantage.
That was the most the Lady Eagles would lead by all evening, while Plano was quick to counter with a 5-0 run capped by a Fazio ace for an 8-5 lead they would never relinquish.
Senior Ally Birkett added a pair of aces while Fazio, Morell and Seal posted four kills apiece in building a 20-11 advantage.
Despite trimming that lead to 21-16, errors again proved Richardson's undoing down the stretch with four consecutive errors equating Plano's final four points to complete the sweep.
The Lady Wildcats will advance to the area round, returning to action Friday at 6 p.m. from Garland Naaman Forest against District 11-5A Champion Rowlett, which swept Mesquite in its bi-district opener.
For continued news and coverage on the local sports scene, follow @MWelchSCN on Twitter.
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