By Richard Greene | Published Sunday, October 25, 2009
After rolling to eight straight victories to open District 5-3A play, the Decatur Lady Eagles varsity volleyball team's hopes of bringing home a league title could come down to just one match.
Pending Friday's results, the undefeated Lady Eagles will meet second-place Iowa Park with the league title on the line Tuesday at Iowa Park High School Gym. The two squads will play at approximately 7 p.m. Decatur played Burkburnett Friday, and Iowa Park took on last-place Wichita Falls Hirschi.
Decatur coach Claire Rose said Tuesday will be a pressure-packed match against an Iowa Park team that has lost only once in league play. Decatur beat Iowa Park in three games Oct. 9.
"There's pressure and it'll be difficult to get over there and win," Rose said. "We'll have to come out mentally ready. I think we've worked too hard to take this lightly.
"Our goal is to be district champions," she added.
In their last meeting, Decatur won 25-10, 25-14, 25-17. Decatur forced 22 Iowa Park hitting errors.
Rose said the Lady Eagles' tempo caused Iowa Park's team trouble.
"We served really tough and kept their big hitters off balance by adjusting our blocks," Rose said. "We also passed really well."
Sara Oxford put down 17 kills in the victory. Kortney Tompkins added nine. Setter Fleming Smurthwaite recorded 23 assists.
Rose expects a tougher match at Iowa Park. Decatur fell in three games at Iowa Park last year.
The Lady Eagles can make program history, completing a sweep of the district Tuesday and securing the first outright league title.
"They've worked super hard and gelled really well together," Rose said. "I'm so proud of them. They've constantly pushed themselves."
Decatur has won 12 straight matches. The Lady Eagles' last loss was to Nocona in the Nocona Tournament Sept. 12. Decatur has a warm-up match with Nocona scheduled for Thursday at 7 p.m.
If the Lady Eagles claim the district crown, they will start the playoffs in the area round Nov. 5-7 against the winner of the bi-district match between the third-place team out of District 7-3A and the runner-up from District 8-3A.
Rose said the team's goal past district is to get through the area round for the first time in the program's history.
"We've never been past the area round," Rose said. "That's a goal we have."
