Rogers, Sampson, Spell Lead New Diana to Four-Game Win Against Harmony

[By Colby Fleet, Special to ETSN.fm]

LONGVIEW -- New Diana got 25 kills and 11 digs from Courtney Rogers in a 25-23, 21-25, 25-9, 25-18 victory against Harmony in Tuesday’s Class 2A Region III bi-district volleyball playoff at LeTourneau University’s Solheim Arena.

New Diana (31-8) advances to play Kirbyville at 7 p.m. Thursday in Lufkin. Harmony’s season ends with a 20-14 record.

Rogers got help from setter Madison Sampson, who had 36 assists, four digs, one block, and one kill to pace the Lady Eagles to victory.

Down 10-4 in Game 1, New Diana caught a spark from Rogers as she hit down eight kills. Harmony service errors allowed New Diana to escape with a narrow victory, 25-23.

Harmony used kills from Mariah Goguen, McKinna Seahorn , and Keirsten Seahorn to extend its lead 18-15. New Diana tied the score 19-19, but an ace by McKinna Seahorn gave Harmony the momentum it needed to win Game 2.

New Diana dominated the service line in Game 3. Sophomore Kayli Morvan served six consecutive points for a 15-5 New Diana advantage. Harmony couldn’t respond to New Diana and Rogers, who had five Game 3 kills, as they cruised to a 25-9 win and 2-1 match edge.

New Diana never trailed in Game 4, which saw only three ties. With a 19-18 lead, New Diana’s Bailee Birdsong took the service line and went 6-for-6, including one ace, while Cheyenne Spell knocked down the match’s final point for the 25-18 victory.

Spell had 10 digs, nine kills, and nine assists, while New Diana teammate Jessica Hampton added five kills and two blocks. Kayli Morvan contributed 11 digs. Birdsong added three kills.

Keirsten Seahorn led Harmony with 13 kills, while McKinna Seahorn added 12 assists and two kills. Goguen tallied six kills and one block. Teammate McKenna Thomas had 11 assists.