Of course, the Lady Tigers opened that game with a 14-point run en route to a 22-2 lead, swinging the momentum in a 15-25, 25-22, 25-10, 25-14 win over the Tem-Cats at Wildcat Gym.
In the third game, the Tem-Cats (16-9, 1-1) committed eight serve-receive errors - four by normally sure-handed libero Julie Holloway. They fell behind 18-1 in the game, and Temple coach Susie Hughlett said that changed the course of the match.
“Everybody has a bad game now and then, but our serve receive broke down, period,” Hughlett said. “It had been close until that point. It happened, it’s done, forget about it, move on.”
Hughlett said putting the match’s third game behind the Tem-Cats as they prepare to take on Class 4A No. 1-ranked Waco Midway (31-0) in a non-district match at 5:30 p.m. Friday at Wildcat Gym is important as they look to rebound.
“We’ve erased it from our memories,” she said. “That’s the attitude about it. It’s done. We’ve all agreed not to talk about that game right there.”
Hughlett said she was happy her team didn’t roll over when down 22-2.
“They didn’t quit - that’s the good part,” she said. “At some point you have to laugh. I can’t really get mad at them because it doesn’t fix the problem. And it wasn’t until they started to kind of laugh and giggle out there that they started to make some points. Relaxing is the key for this team - they play their best when they’re lose.”
A&M Consolidated (18-9), playing its first district match, struggled in the opening game while Temple played a clean game, scoring 10 of the last 12 points to cruise to the win. In Game 2, Temple turned a 20-17 deficit to a 21-21 tie. But the Lady Tigers scored the next two points and never looked back.
After the Game 3 debacle, the Tem-Cats never led during the final game. They cut a nine-point lead to 18-12 but gave up six straight as Consol again pulled away. Despite eight serve-receive errors, Holloway led Temple with 18 digs, and Jordan Pickett added 12 digs and a team-high 13 kills. Trenette Smith had four aces, 11 kills and 15 digs.
Hughlett said the size of the Lady Tigers - including 6-4 sophomore middle blocker Carla Gilbert (who did not play in the first game), 6-foot Carli Kolbe and 5-11 Mimi McFarland - gave the Tem-Cat attackers fits, holding Smith to one of her lower kill percentages this season.
“Everybody was off,” Hughlett said. “They had weapons galore - weapons galore. We were outmatched but for the most part we held in there, barring Game 3.”
After the Midway match Friday, Temple will return to district action when it plays at rival Belton at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday.
ecarifio@temple-telegram.com
