The Tem-Cats opened the volleyball season with a 25-21, 23-25, 25-23, 21-25, 15-12 win over Class 4A No. 6-ranked Waco Midway.
“It’s always good to get a win,” Temple coach Susie Hughlett said. “Temple hasn’t beaten Midway in eight years and for the kids to come out and play like they did against a quality team gives us something to build on. I was real proud of them.”
The marathon match was a good opening test for the Tem-Cats, who jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the final game, then led 7-2 before the Pantherettes got on a run to pull within two.
“It was tight. They got it to 13-11 and we had been missing serves,” Hughlett said. “I told our girls, ‘Just get the serves in and rely on the defense.’ They plugged away and got it done.”
Knowing her team was going to be smaller than normal, Hughlett has put an extra emphasis on the defense this season and said it rose to the challenge in Monday’s opener.
“It was good,” she said. “They were able to keep the ball in play and there was rarely a time the ball hit the floor without someone going for it. It wasn’t prefect by any means, and there’s still things to work on, but they got it done tonight.”
Six players had double-digit digs for the Tem-Cats, led by the 16 of Patti Kabobel, who added 16 kills. Jordan Pickett added 18 kills and seven digs and Kacie Easley had 14 kills and 12 digs.
The Tem-Cats will begin their home schedule today at Wildcat Gym, playing Liberty Hill at 4 p.m. and Waller at 6:30.
