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Varsity Volleyball started the week 34-2, 11-0 in District play. Stratford was ranked 3rd in the Texas Volleyball Insiders rankings of 6A teams and 10th among state 6A team by MaxPreps. The team sat alone atop the District standings and clinched a playoff spot for the 5th consecutive time.
vs. Cy Falls
The Lady Spartans were on the road for both games this week, with the first game of the week against the Cy Falls Golden Eagles. On the opening whistle blow, Varsity cranked into gear. When all was said and done, Stratford had cruised to yet another straight-set District victory 25-13, 25-14, 25-8 over Cy Falls. Pacing Varsity through the game was Gwen Koss, who had 22 total kills in the three sets. Koss started off the first with 8 kills, contributing almost half of the 17 kills in the set. Milena Miladinovic's monster kill at the end put an exclamation mark on the first set.
Koss kept the pressure up in the second with 6 kills and a block, with Sydney Hatcher adding 3 kills to the Spartan scoring. Miladinovic, like in the first set, ended the set with another kill. In the final frame, The Lady Spartans were up 9-8 when Audrey Cook went back to the line to serve. The Spartans would not need another rotation at that point with Cook serving 16 straight times to close out the set and the game. With only one ace, the Spartans relied on the defensive play of Rachel Ashby and Logan Sykes and exceptional setting by Cook, which led to scores by Koss, Miladinovic, Avery Kent, and Lauren Dunwoody.
vs. Cy Ridge
Varsity was back on the road on Friday playing against the Cy Ridge Rams. Though it was not necessarily pretty, the Lady Spartans swept the Rams and picked up their 13th straight win in District 25-20, 25-17 and 25-20. The Spartans came out swinging with kills by Kent, Hatcher, and Tess Stephenson along with two aces by Caroline White, which had Varsity up 8-5 early. The Rams were able to tie the game at 9 all, but kills by Koss, Kent, Hatcher, Stephenson along with Cook getting in on the action with a kill of her own had the Spartans up 20-15. The Rams continued to put up a fight, but a Cook ace late in the match along with a game-ending block by Miladinovic and Kent had the Spartans taking the first set 25-20.
Varsity came out in the second set with everyone ready to get in on the scoring action. Koss led the way with 5 kills, with Hatcher, Miladinovic, Kent, Cook, Stephenson, and Dunwoody all adding to the scoring, and the Spartans took the second set 25-17.
The last set was much like the first set. The Rams were not going down without a fight and kept the score close early on, but strong play by Jenna Rae James, Sydney Pera, and Miladinovic had Varsity up 12-10. Sykes was back at the line and took it upon herself to further the lead by serving six straight, including 4 aces. However, in a little bit of controversy, the scores table was distracted during this run and failed to score her 3rd ace and did not award the Spartans the point (though you know the parents absolutely knew the correct score). The score should have been 18-10 at the end of the Sykes run, however the score board said 17-10. This did not phase the Spartans and even with the Rams going on a bit of a run toward the end, a Koss kill and combo Miladinovic and Koss block secured the win 25-20 or in reality 26-20 (not that the parents noticed).
Next up is the final District game of the season at home against our cross-town rivals, the Memorial Mustangs. The Lady Spartans are the Lady Mustang’s only loss during District. This game is for sole possession of 1st place in District, and the girls hope to bring home the District championship for the 3rd straight year. Spartan America, we need your support! Come out, WEAR BLACK, and cheer the Varsity on to victory, Tuesday, October 29th at 5:30 pm!
This week’s stats include: