Volleyball Roundup: Pine Tree Opens 14-4A With a Sweep, Bullard Edges Gilmer + More

SULPHUR SPRINGS -- Pine Tree opened the District 14-4A volleyball schedule with an impressive sweep of Sulphur Springs, 25-10, 25-20, 25-12.

The win makes Pine Tree 21-5 entering Tuesday's home match against Texas High. Emily Shelton dished out 25 assists, while Sky Holmes recorded 11 kills.

The Lady Pirates are ranked eighth in the latest Texas Girls Coaches Association Class 4A poll.

Bullard ambushes Gilmer in five games

BULLARD -- Gilmer is no longer unbeaten in District 16-3A following Bullard's 25-23, 24-26, 27-25, 18-25, 15-13 home victory Friday afternoon.

The win was Bullard's first in 16-3A play as the Lady Panthers improve to 1-3. Gilmer fell to 3-1.

"Great win for our club. We needed a win and going toe-to-toe with a good team was huge for us," said Bullard coach Ben Belshaw. "We had a game plan and the girls carried it out well. Just goes to show that you never know what may happen in this district. I am very proud of the fight and unity that our girls showed tonight. We had to come together and sort some things out after Tuesday's five-game loss to Gladewater. To come out and play like we did was great to see."

Bullard's Mackenzie Fish had a huge night with 16 kills, 22 digs, and five aces. Meredith Daly had 11 kills and seven blocks, while Hana Woyt had eight kills and six blocks.

Mad Hodges had 18 digs for the Lady Panthers, who got nine digs from Lexi Abercrombie. Bri Ridgley had a team-high 28 assists and two aces. Emily Tekell added seven digs and two aces.

Carthage Sweeps Past Diboll to Open 20-3A

DIBOLL -- The No. 15 Carthage Lady Bulldogs swept Jasper 25-22, 25-19, 25-15 on Friday in the District 20-3A opener.

Iesha Bryant led the way with 15 kills and eight blocks. Marisah Ingram had 11 kills and six blocks, Kenzie Tate added 33 assists and five blocks.

Carthage plays at Huntington on Tuesday.

Troup tops rival Arp in four games

ARP -- Troup invaded Arp on Friday and came away with a 25-12, 25-22, 18-25, 25-22 win against its rival.

Lauren Littlefield led Arp with 13 kills, two blocks and five digs, while Taylor Burnett had six kills, three blocks, and one dig. Alicia Summers had 10 assists and 15 digs, and Kaci Kuykendall added three kills and 15 digs.

Arp also got two kills, four blocks, and a dig from Tinikia Lacy, plus 14 assists and nine digs from Rebecca Daniels. Sheyenne Atchley added 14 digs.

Arp hosts Harmony on Tuesday. Sabine visits Troup.

 Beckville sweeps past Carlisle

BECKVILLE -- Beckville improved to 14-9 overall and 4-1 in district play with a 25-19, 25-20, 25-16 sweep of Carlisle on Friday.

Ivy Rieke and Taylor Lindsay had 10 kills apiece to pace the Ladycats, who got 14 assists from Emma Smith and 11 from Montana Searcy. Lindsay and Shelbi Dodson had a team-high 14 digs apiece, while Dalye Alfaro added 11 and Carson Blair chipped in 10.

Rieke led Beckville with seven blocks and three aces. Beckville visits Gary on Tuesday.