WCMessenger.com: Lady Eagles sweep Burk

WCMessenger.com Sports: Volleyball Headlines

Lady Eagles sweep Burk

By Richard Greene | Published Thursday, October 29, 2009

The Decatur varsity volleyball team closed within one match of completing the sweep of District 5-3A Friday afternoon.

The Lady Eagles (36-5), who are ranked No. 5 in the latest Texas Girls Coaches Association poll, eased past Burkburnett in three games to keep their league record perfect at 9-0. Decatur beat Burkburnett 25-13, 25-13, 25-15.

The victory set up a showdown for the district title with Iowa Park, which has lost only one league game. The match was played after the Messenger deadline Tuesday.

"They are ready, but we still have a lot of work to do," said Decatur coach Claire Rose. "They want it enough and are willing to put the work in."

Against Burkburnett, Decatur setter Fleming Smurthwaite was nearly flawless, managing the offense and distributing balls to hitters. She finished with 31 assists. Smurthwaite also put down six kills of her own.

"I give her a lot to work with," Rose said about Smurthwaite. "She can't do a lot if we don't pass the ball well."

Sara Oxford and Kortney Tompkins reached double-digits in kills. Oxford put down 12. Tompkins added 11.

Defensively, Decatur limited Burkburnett to 13 kills. Smurthwaite finished with nine digs. Claribel Trejo, Oxford and Tompkins finished with eight digs each. Oxford and Smurthwaite both recorded four blocks.

A pair of aces by Oxford helped Decatur build a 12-4 lead to start game one. She recorded four aces in the match.

Decatur built the lead to 12 points, 22-10, on a kill by Oxford and took game one on a Burkburnett service-receive error.

Burkburnett hung with Decatur early in game two before a kill from Tompkins and a block-kill by Annelise Carpenter gave the Lady Eagles a 10-6 lead. Decatur closed the game on a 9-4 run.

Game three was tied at 11 before Decatur went on a 5-0 run to get some breathing room. A kill by Oxford put the Lady Eagles at match point. Ingrid Boatman closed the match with her fourth kill.