With Belton trailing DeSoto two games to one on Tuesday night, the Lady Tigers junior took on an even larger offensive role like she's done so often in the hope of providing her team the spark it needed.

"I'm big on not looking for other people to make your plays. You have to make your own plays," said outside hitter Weaver, the area leader in kills.

Suddenly her teammates got more involved, most notably sophomore Madison McMillan, as Belton mounted a rally. Fittingly, Weaver's career-best 35th kill finished off the Lady Tigers' 25-19, 24-26, 19-25, 25-14, 15-11 win over the Lady Eagles in a Class 5A bi-district volleyball playoff at Waco High School.

"The energy came from everybody and I think Grace feeds off that energy," second-year Belton coach Justeen Patton said. "Once her team gets fired up, she's right there with them ready to do what she needs to do for the team."

The Lady Tigers (16-23) advanced to face Garland Sachse (30-10) - which beat Richardson Berkner on Tuesday and ended Belton's season last year - in the area round at 6:30 Friday night in West.

Along with her 35-kill barrage, Weaver also had 10 digs. McMillan had six of her nine kills in the final two games, Brooke Malcik had 45 assists and an impressive seven kills from the setter position and libero Chelsea Lomprey had a team-high 19 digs.

"I knew we needed to use Grace a lot to win," Malcik said. "Everybody needed to help out and Grace can find the spot where to go. If I need her I know always to go to her."

Belton charged to a 7-2 lead in Game 4 behind Weaver's four kills, and McMillan's slam on a free pass made it 16-7. After DeSoto (26-12) pulled to within 18-13, Weaver had a kill and Aereal Dickerson and McMillan had consecutive kills off of free passes. Weaver's back-row dink later sent the match to a decisive game.

"We got a little sharper and a little smarter in Games 4 and 5, obviously," Patton said. "We got back that energy and gained the confidence again in Game 4."

cmeister@temple-telegram.com