Lady Tigers secure hold on 3rd place in 24-3A standings
By MIKE KONVICKA & JOEL LUNA

Photo by Kris Bagley/El Campo Leader-News Wharton's Shaniqua Dogins and Sharneace Johnson raise their hands above the net to block the volleyball in a recent match against El Campo.

Wharton took a step closer in securing one of the three District 24-3A volleyball playoff spots by beating Sweeny 25-15, 25-16, 25-15 Tuesday night at Tiger Gymnasium.

The third place Lady Tigers improved to 6-2 to start the second round of league play and fourth place Sweeny slipped to 4-4.

"This was a very well played match," said Wharton coach Shauna Eller. "We played hard the entire time and did not give up.

"There were some excellent hustle plays that kept us in the game. Our serving was great also.

"This win helps us towards our goal of making to the playoffs. We are now... in great position to make it to the post season.

"We are in control of our own destiny, so hopefully, we will continue to excel."

League-leading Columbus beat Stafford and improved to 8-0 and the Lady Spartans slipped to 1-7.

Second place Needville beat Columbia and improved to 7-1 and the Lady Necks slipped to 3-5.

Wharton hosted winless Royal on Friday and visits Columbus on Tuesday.

Wharton jumped on Sweeny from the onset in the first game with outside hitter Heather Reynolds and setter Megan Joost hooking up continuously. It was Reynolds's thundering kills that boosted the Lady Tigers to an early 10- 5 advantage.

Fighting from behind a majority of that first game, the Lady Bulldogs could not catch up. Reynolds finished with six kills in the opening frame, including the game-winner after four tries.

Sweeny had better luck in the second game but had to come from behind again. Down by seven at one point, 14- 7, the Lady Bulldogs put together some solid play to catch up.

With the setting of Candyce Carter and the swinging of Jalyn Erwin, Kaycee Hillmer, Jackie Franklin and Miranda Huerta, Sweeny went on a 8-1 run to knot the game at 15-15.

However, the Lady Tigers quickly regained the lead as Reynolds found an open spot to the end line to stop the Lady Bulldogs' rally.

After that it was Wharton's turn to go on a run. With Reynolds serving, the Lady Tigers ended the game with nine consecutive points.

Shaniqua Dogins got four kills in that sequence, but it was Reynolds's ace that put away the Lady Bulldogs in game two.

In the third game Sweeny finally got a lead as Erwin opened with a hard shot off the defense. After another hard hit, this one by Layman Sherlyn, the Lady Bulldogs jumped out to a 5-1 lead following Hillmer's kill.

Sweeny widened the advantage to 8-3 until Wharton started to make a comeback.

It was Dogins's shot over Franklin that finally tied the game at 10-10. From there the Lady Tigers outscored Sweeny 15-6 to put away the match.

Reynolds finished the match with 13 kills, two blocks, four digs, one assist and one ace. Dogins added 14 kills and four blocks.

Vernequa Taylor had five kills with nine digs and seven aces. Sharneace Johnson added four kills, three digs, one ace and one kill.

Jalessa Jones had two kills, two digs and one block. Brittany Gutierrez had four digs with one assist and one ace.

Setter Megan Joost had 35 assists with one kill and two aces. Liz Reyes