For the Coppell volleyball team, the fourth set could be the end-all-be-all. Denton Guyer had taken the first set; the Cowgirls the last two. The teams were down to the fourth set. If the Cowgirls won the fourth set, they would secure their win. 

If, however, the Wildcats took this set, it would be up to the fifth set to determine who left with that green W.

The neck-to-neck dexterity between the Cowgirls and the Wildcats was apparent by the back and forth scores. Denton Guyer senior Lauren Schneider served the first ball of the fourth set. It was out – that marked the first point for the Cowgirls. But, only a couple seconds later, Coppell senior Sabina Frosk hit the ball out – that was the first point for Denton Guyer. Only minutes later, the set was 23-21. Coppell junior Daki Kahungu spiked the ball in. The score was 24-21. One more point and Coppell would take the fourth set. And then, Coppell senior Taylor Young scored an ace for the match point.

“It gets tight thinking that this could be the last set,” Coppell volleyball coach Robyn Ross said. “I reminded them during that last set that they play best when they have fun.”

Coppell defeated Denton Guyer in Tuesday’s match, 16-25, 25-16, 25-24, 25-21, at CHS Arena.

The first set was a win for Denton Guyer.

“We sometimes have a hard time coming out of the gate as strong as we do finishing,” Ross said. “We just stay the course. I try to not get worked up because if I do then they do. I spend that time reminding them of all the things we’re doing well, and we just need to do the things to get the other team out of their game plan.”

But, Coppell turned the tables from there. In the second set, Coppell gained an early lead. But Kahungu’s preemptive offense scored the final point of the second set with a kill.

“I was thinking of the next ball,” Kahungu said. “I was thinking of getting that next ball down, resetting, and killing it.”

In her first year coaching at Coppell High School, CHS alumna Ross is learning about her team’s mentality.

“The (team) plays best when they’re being a little goofy and celebrating big,” Ross said. “I just reminded them of that. You guys are better when it’s fun and light. So, they went out, had some fun and got a W.”

With its  21-7 record, Coppell will play Rockwall at the CHS Arena on Friday at 6:30 p.m. 

Follow Anu De (@anushree_night) and @CHSCampusNews/@SidekickSports on Twitter.