[By Colby Fleet, Special to ETSN.fm]

LONGVIEW -- Senior Night for Pine Tree proved to be an evening to remember as Pine Tree defeated Mount Pleasant, 25-16, 20-25, 28-26, 25-22, in District 14-4A action Tuesday night.

Kerri Johnson knocked down 10 kills, while setter Emily Shelton dished out 36 assists to add to her one kill and one block in the victory for the 15th-ranked Lady Pirates.

In Game 1, both teams were in a defensive struggle until a missed serve by Paula Meriwether jump-started the Lady Pirates. Darby Davis took to the service line for three consecutive points and made the lead 12-9.

Pine Tree used nicely placed serves by Kennedy Sampson, including an ace, to push the Lady Pirates' lead to 16-10. Mount Pleasant fought back to within four, but Pine Tree's lead was too much for the Lady Tigers to overcome.

In Game 2, Pine Tree could not find a rhythm and its failure to execute serves gave Mount Pleasant the energy it needed. Ladaisha Gillard sparked the Lady Tigers with four kills and Paula Meriwether hit home an ace to give the Lady Tigers the win to even the match.

With the match tied, Game 3 proved to be the most thrilling. Pine Tree jumped out to a 4-0 lead on service points from Davis, but once again service errors for Pine Tree kept Mount Pleasant in the game. Mount Pleasant battled and took Pine Tree to game point four times, before Sky Holmes slammed down the game’s final point for an electrifying 28-26 win.

In the final game of the night, Mount Pleasant matched Pine Tree point-for-point with stellar play shown from Alvarez and Gillard. Kerri Johnson had different plans, as she took command of the game, knocking down eight kills including six in a row and the game’s final point to secure the final game of the match.

Devin Assenheimer knocked down nine kills and Davis had eight digs and one ace, while teammate Kennedy Sampson chipped in with two aces in the Lady Pirates’ victory.

Mount Pleasant’s Ravon Morgan dished out 24 assists and knocked down one kill, while Gillard and Alvarez combined for 19 kills and nine blocks, respectively.

Pine Tree's Emily Shelton (10) takes her position before her teammate serves during Tuesday's match against Mount Pleasant on Tuesday in Longview. (Christopher Vinn, ETSN.fm)
Pine Tree's Emily Shelton (10) takes her position before her teammate serves during Tuesday's match against Mount Pleasant on Tuesday in Longview. (Christopher Vinn, ETSN.fm)
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