Troup Outlasts Tatum in Five Games, 25-14, 24-26, 25-10, 15-25, 15-9

[By Colby Fleet, Special to ETSN.fm]

LONGVIEW -- Troup and Tatum battled for a tough five games in Tuesday’s Class 2A Region III bi-district contest, but the Lady Tigers prevailed 25-15, 24-26, 25-10, 15-25, 15-9 at LeTourneau University's Solhiem Arena.

Tatum finishes the season with a record of 21-14, while Troup (24-16) advances to the area round against Palestine Westwood. That match is tentatively set for 5 p.m. Saturday in Lindale.

Chaney Cover knocked down eight kills to add to her 13 digs and connected on eight aces, while teammate Josee Ross swatted 17 kills and had 10 digs to guide the Lady Tigers. Troup used serving to its advantage, tallying 14 aces in the match, including three from Paeton Nolan with Carly Dyess, Josee Ross and Hunter Jordan adding one apiece.

Game 1 came down to service execution. Troup placed the ball perfectly, hitting 7 of its 14 aces in the first game. Trailing 5-1, Nolan knocked down a kill for the Lady Tigers that sent Cover to the service line. Cover hit three straight aces to tie the game and Troup continued to build its lead. Kiana Turner used an ace to bring the Lady Eagles within four points, 18-14, but Nolan finished the game with five straight service points.

In the second game, Tatum overcame a 23-16 deficit with brilliant play by Kaylah Starling, who knocked down five kills to complete the comeback win.

In the third game, the Lady Tigers dominated defensively, holding the Lady Eagles to only 10 points, giving Troup a 2-1 advantage.

In Game 4, Starling and Kenija Collier combined for eight kills, including four straight by Collier, which pushed the match to its final game.

In the final game, tied 4-4, Nolan took to the service line for five consecutive points to extend the Lady Tigers' lead to 9-4. Tatum made one last run on kills from Collier, but Cover served an ace to seal the match for the Lady Tigers.

Hunter Jordan dished out 25 assists, while knocking down two kills in the Lady Tigers victory.

Rikki Glezen had 26 assists, 12 digs and two kills, while Starling knocked down 14 kills to add to her one block. Collier chipped in with 11 kills, one assist and one block. Turner also had 21 digs for the Lady Eagles.