Swanson, White Oak Clinch Fourth Consecutive Class 2A State Tournament Trip

LONGVIEW -- Dorothy Swanson went to three state volleyball tournaments in her first three years of high school. Thanks to a monster performance Saturday, she'll be there again.

Swanson dominated with 30 kills, six blocks, and three assists to lead White Oak to a 25-22, 25-20, 25-27, 25-17 victory against Centerville that clinched a fourth consecutive Class 2A Region III volleyball championship and the Ladynecks' fourth state tournament berth in as many years.

Madison Taylor and Taelor Edgin spurred a late Game 3 rally to keep Centerville (41-5) alive, but Swanson took over the fourth set. Her three kills and two blocks fueled a 6-0 run that put White Oak (40-5) ahead 8-2.

The Ladynecks never trailed again. Swanson, who is committed to Abilene Christian, had eight kills and three blocks in Game 4, including an emphatic match-ender off Morgan Baldwin's 40th assist to secure White Oak's fourth state tournament trip in a row.

"She could smell blood in the water," said White Oak coach Carolee Musick. "She knew that it was right there and we needed to press on. She was definitely a go-to person at the end of that game."

White Oak's win marked the fourth consecutive season the Ladynecks have eliminated Centerville at the Region III tournament. The last time White Oak failed to reach the state tournament (2008), Centerville knocked out the Ladynecks in the regional championship.

Baldwin had four kills and two aces to accompany her match-high 40 assists. Teammate Rebecca Green added 11 kills.

"I can't speak highly enough of my senior leadership. ... We've had some bumps in the road, but we've learned from them and tried to bounce back and be stronger from them," Musick said. "I would totally give the glory to my seniors for their leadership and the underclassmen for following them."

Taylor had a huge match for Centerville with 22 kills, two blocks, and three aces. Edgin added 15 kills and one block, while Amber Barker had 30 assists. Layne Wilson had seven kills and a block.

Centerville committed 10 service errors, including three apiece in the first two games. That helped White Oak take a 2-0 match advantage before the Lady Tigers fought back in the third set to force the match to a fourth game.

White Oak plays at 1 or 3 p.m. Thursday in a 2A state semifinal at Garland's Curtis Culwell Center. White Oak lost in last year's state semifinals after winning the 2010 state championship.

Centerville's Taelor Edgin returns the ball during White Oak's regional championship victory Saturday at Longview's Lobo Coliseum. (Christopher Vinn, ETSN.fm)

White Oak roster