The Houston High School volleyball team bid farewell to the 2012 senior class with a final victory inside Hiett Gymnasium.
Senior Alexa Ichord had 10 kills in her final home match and fellow senior Amber Sillyman handed out 15 assists as the Lady Tigers beat Cabool 25-21, 25-21 Tuesday night.
It was the last home match for seniors Reanna Craig, Sarah Garrett, Haley Kelley, Ichord and Sillyman. They were recognized alongside their parents and showered with gifts and hugs from their teammates following the victory.
“It’s funny to see such different personalities in a group of girls that have been together for a long time,” HHS coach Skye Carrasquillo said. “One thing they all have in common is they love volleyball. They will truly be missed.”
The Lady Tigers, who beat Summersville 25-19, 25-23 on the road Monday, finished the regular season with consecutive victories. They are seeded third in the Class 2 District 9 tournament that begins Monday.
Houston (11-16-2) faces No. 6 Willow Springs at 8 p.m. Monday at Cabool High School. The winner will play Mountain View-Liberty or Plato in the semifinals at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday. The championship match will follow at 8 p.m.
“I believe the team is ready,” Carrasquillo said. “We have been getting better lately. I’m excited to see how the girls come out and play in districts.”
With all five seniors in the starting lineup Tuesday, the Lady Tigers scored eight of the first nine points against Cabool. Ichord’s kill ended the rally that put HHS ahead 8-1.
Trailing 17-9, the Lady Bulldogs used an 11-2 rally to take a one-point lead. But Houston responded by scoring six of the next seven points –– highlighted by two Ichord kills –– to take the first set. Junior libero Desiree Venable put the finishing touches on the spurt with a second-row kill that landed on the back line.
Neither team led by more than three points in a tight second set that featured 10 ties and four lead changes.
Sillyman set up Ichord for a kill that put Houston ahead 21-19 and three plays later, Kelley’s ace gave the Lady Tigers a three-point cushion. A Cabool hitting error capped the senior night victory.
Venable led Houston with 18 digs. Kylee Elmore, Kelley and Sillyman had one ace apiece.
On Monday, Sydney Cremer had a team-best six kills and Sillyman had three of the Lady Tigers’ seven aces in their win at Summersville.
JUNIOR VARSITY: Katelyn Martinez had nine kills and Camryn Scheets handed out 19 assists in the JV Lady Tigers’ 23-25, 25-17, 25-17 loss Tuesday to Cabool.
Monday’s matches
(4) Cabool (13-16-2) vs. (5) Licking (10-13-1, 5 p.m.
(2) Liberty (25-6-1) vs. (7)Plato (4-13-3), 6:30 p.m.
(3) Houston (11-16-2) vs. (6) Willow Springs (6-18-2), 8 p.m.
Tuesday’s matches
(1) Mountain Grove (22-8-2) vs. Cabool-Licking winner, 5 p.m.
Liberty-Plato winner vs. Houston-Willow Springs winner, 6:30 p.m.
Championship, 8 p.m.