As warm ups began, both teams had a determined and focused demeanor in what was about to be the biggest game of the year. The two schools, well known rivals for many years, were near another competition for not just bragging rights, but a district championship.

Coppell, widely known for it’s rowdy student section, had a great turnout of high schoolers there to root their team on, knowing just how big the game was.

The Cowgirls started the first set slow, and couldn’t seem to get any type of rhythm going. The sluggish start defined the set in what was going to be a tough night for the Cowgirls.

After a timeout, the Cowgirls gained momentum and cut the deficit to 20-15 due to strong blocks by freshman hitter Mykayla Myers. After a valiant fight, the Lady Dragons eventually won the set 25-18.

Following losing the first set, the Cowgirls came out determined and got their first lead of the night from senior hitter Jamie Stivers kill to make it 5-4 Coppell.

Sophomore Carroll Hitter standout, Asjia O’neal, was asserting her dominating presence early on the game, killing nearly everything coming her way. Her craftiness and hit placement seemed overpowering as she led the Southlake Carroll surge for the lead.

After the second time out of the set, the Cowgirls could not seem to get anything going and relinquish the lead during a long scoring run by the Lady Dragons. In a matter of minutes, Coppell found itself down 20-10, eventually losing the set 25-11.

Heading into the third set, the cowgirls looked to get something going with service by junior libero Lauren Lee, but had trouble finishing rallies with the seemingly endless blocks by the Southlake Carroll front line.

After being down 5-1, the Cowgirls comeback fight was led by acrobatic saves from senior defensive specialist Caroline Riley and Lee, to make the score 8-7. The momentum gained, soon shifted over to the other side of the court.

An impressive rally between the two contenders, made possible by 3 amazing saves from Lee, eventually ended up as a Lady Dragon point.

Late into the set, Southlake Carroll possessed the lead 20-17, but service shifted to Coppell after a kill by Carroll’s O’neal was blocked and fell on the Southlake side of the court.

Sensing the time to strike for a comeback, Riley served an ace, suddenly bringing to life the team and student section. After winning a rally, Coppell tied the score at 20 all due to a strong kill by Senior Jamie Stivers.

Following this boost of confidence, Freshman Mykayla Myers got in on the action with a well placed kill giving Coppell its first lead since early in the second set.

In the end, the life injected into the Cowgirls was not enough to overcome the Lady Dragons. After trading kills to make the score 23-22, O’neal shined in the final moments of the night. The Lady Dragons went on to win, taking home the district championship.

When asked how her team would recover after the loss, Coppell Head Coach Julie Green said, “We are going to continue working on things on our side of the net.” Green went on to say, “I thought Southlake played phenomenal, we did not give them our best [showing].”

The Cowgirls will look to overcome this minor setback heading into the state playoffs. They look to send the seniors off with hardware. The playoffs officially start on November 2.