Then after a 1-hour, 20-minute delay because there were no officials for their match against Harker Heights on Tuesday, the Lady Tigers had another reason to celebrate: Belton is headed back to the playoffs for the second straight year.
Aided by District 12-5A leader College Station A&M Consolidated’s sweep of Temple, the Lady Tigers clinched one of 12-5A’s four playoff berths, wasting little time in disposing of the Scarlet Knights 25-7, 25-17, 25-18 at Tiger Gym.
“We had to overcome some adversity,” Belton first-year coach Justeen Patton said about the delay.
Belton improved to 18-12 overall and 8-4 in 12-5A. The other likely playoff teams are district champion Consol (28-7, 12-0), second-place Bryan (20-14, 9-3), which swept Killeen Shoemaker on Tuesday, and Copperas Cove (25-15, 8-4), which beat Killeen Ellison in four games.
Bryan remains one match ahead of the third-place Lady Tigers and Lady Bulldawgs but has a match with Consol next Tuesday, which might create a three-way tie for second.
Tuesday was the final home match for Belton seniors Myca San Miguel, Becca Owen, Tilatha Akins, Kimesha Scott and Victoria Murry.
Setter San Miguel, outside hitter Owen and middle blocker Akins have started the last two seasons and played a large role in turning around the Lady Tigers program.
After going 6-24 in 2005 and 10-18 in 2006, Belton went 20-14 last season under Allison Taylor, and with matches against Ellison and Shoemaker remaining the Lady Tigers likely will reach the 20-win plateau again.
“It’s sad, but exciting,” San Miguel, who had 16 assists and four digs, said about her final home match. “We’ve come so far as a team.”
Added Akins, who had four digs and two blocks: “It actually hit me that it was our last game when we were receiving our presents. I know it’s not the last game I’m going to play with them, so I know it’s going to continue.”
The seniors made sure they ended their careers at Tiger Gym in style.
Owen recorded six of her team-high eight kills and had two aces in the first game, which lasted just 13 minutes. The Lady Tigers scored 10 consecutive points to jump out to a 14-2 lead and easily cruise to the win. Heights (3-11, 2-10) scored three offensive points.
The Scarlet Knights hung around for most of Game 2 before Scott’s kill and a serve-receive error gave Belton the win.
“In Games 1 and 2, we looked pretty good,” Patton said. “The reserves had their moments and looked good.”
Akins, Owen, San Miguel and Scott never played again as Patton decided to go with mostly reserves in Game 3.
Sophomore Grace Weaver had three kills as the Lady Tigers roared back from a 10-9 deficit for a 16-10 lead. Heights closed to within 21-18 but sophomore Brooke Kiella had two kills, sophomore Amber Peters slammed another and Weaver’s tough serving finished the 53-minute match.
“It was a really good practice match for us to learn to stay focused going into the playoffs,” Akins said.
Belton fell in three quick games to Round Rock McNeil in the first round of last year’s playoffs. With an extra year of experience, this year’s Lady Tigers are more prepared heading into the postseason.
“This year we want to make it past the first round,” San Miguel said. “We can do it with the way we’re playing."
cmeister@temple-telegram.com
