Lady Tigers notch 24-3A win over Sealy
By MIKE KONVICKA mkonvicka@journal-spectator.com

Staff photo by Mike Konvicka Wharton's Megan Joost serves up the volleyball in Friday's District 24-3A match against Sealy.

SEALY - Wharton completed the first round of it's District 24-3A volleyball schedule Friday afternoon by beating Sealy 25-18, 25-21, 16-25, 25-15 in Tiger Gymnasium.

Wharton improved to 5-2 in league play and Sealy slipped to 4-3.

"It was exciting and good for the girls," said Wharton coach Shauna Eller. "I'm proud of them and they played really hard."

League-leading Columbus handed Needville's it's first district loss and improved to 7-0. The Lady Jays slipped to 6-1. Junior Vernequa Taylor, who stepped it up in the fourth game with some big hits, finished with eight killsand six digs in the match.

Sophomore Heather Reynolds totaled up 20 kills. She also had two blocks and eight digs.

Senior Sharneace Johnson contributed with five kills four digs.

Freshman Shaniqua Dogins had three kills

Brittany Guiterrez had super match serving and had four aces and eight digs.. Setter Megan Joost had 34 assists.

Wharton broke open a 11-8 lead in the first game and built leads of 16-11, 22-17 before going up 24-18 on a kill by Johnson.

An out of bounds hit by Sealy ended the game.

Wharton broke a 7-7 tie in the second game and went up 9-7 on a serve by Gutierrez and kill by Reynolds.

Sealy later went up 20-18 but Wharton responded and picked up six straight points to gain name point at 24-20.

Reynolds had 3 kills and Gutierrez, who was serving, had a hit and and ace

After Sealy made it 24-21, a service error by Emily Whitmore ended the game.

Sealy broke open a 9-8 lead in the third game to go up 13-10. The Lady Tigers from Austin County then built a 19-12 advantage.

Sealy then took leads of 22-14 before closing it out.

Wharton broke a 6-6 tie in the fourth game and went up 7-5 after another kill by Reynolds.

Sealy later trailed 10-9. Taylor took command and helped Wharton build a 17-12 advantage.

A serve by Taylor and a block by Reynolds put Wharton up 19-13 and Sealy called time out.

Two out of bounds hits gave Wharton a 21-14 lead.

Two more kills by Reynolds, an ace by Gutierrez anda hitting error ended the match

Wharton , now 16-10 on the season, hosts Sweeny on Tuesday.

The Lady Bulldogs were 2-4 before playing Columbia.

Wharton's junior varsity beat Sealy 25-22, 25-14 and the freshman won 15- 25, 25-21, 25-18.