Keeping this three-match winning streak going, though, will be a much tougher challenge.
Temple swept Harker Heights 25-14, 25-17, 25-16 on Tuesday night at Wildcat Gym in the final District 12-5A tuneup beginning its toughest stretch of the season.
The Tem-Cats (17-16 overall, 3-1 district) will start with a match Friday at College Station A&M Consolidated, followed by matches against Copperas Cove, Bryan and Belton.
Temple played without its biggest scoring threat, senior Jordan Pickett, for the second straight match.
Temple coach Susie Hughlett said an exact return date for Pickett, who suffered an injury last week, is uncertain.
“We’re playing well considering the fact that we’ve had to change our lineup,” Hughlett said. “I’m real proud of the kids for just coming out the last couple of games and doing what it takes to win. That’s just something we have to do.”
Even without Pickett, scoring against the Scarlet Knights wasn’t much of a problem.
Temple rallied from an early three-point deficit in the first game with a 7-0 run, including three kills by Shantae Hewins, to take the momentum. The Tem-Cats had a 6-0 run late in the game to take a commanding 22-8 lead.
“We didn’t start as strong as I would have liked, but they fought and fought and they didn’t quit,” Hughlett said. “That’s just part of their character.”
Temple led comfortably throughout the second game before needing to pull away late in the third game.
Down 14-13, Temple used a 7-1 run, including two aces by Kacie Easley, to take a 20-15 lead and close out a win.
Despite being without their tallest player, the Tem-Cats have made little changes to the offense. Hewins moved to Pickett’s outside hitter position, while Erika Allen started at middle hitter. Other than that, Hughlett’s sticking with what’s worked for Temple during its three-match stretch.
“We still try and run the same plays,” she said.
Going against 12-5A’s best in the next two weeks, Hughlett knows the Tem-Cats have little room for error. A poor showing in this stretch would force Temple into the undesirable position of basically winning out in the season’s final three weeks.
“If we’re going to beat good teams, we all have to be on - every one of us,” Hughlett said. “We’re not the tallest team in the district, but the kids have a lot of heart. They’re just going to have to play up.
“I don’t have any doubt we can do that. We’re going to have to have everybody firing on all cylinders.”
