Tors beat Westlake in 5, extend win streak to 10
Published 10:00 pm Tuesday, September 17, 2024
SULPHUR — Sulphur volleyball team had to dig deep Tuesday to keep its win streak alive.
They faced match-point three times in the deciding fifth set before beat Westlaek 25-21, 22-25, 25-17, 19-25, 17-15.
“So this was the mentality part that we talked about a week ago where my girls are having a hard time with finishing but also believing in themselves to finish that set and knowing that they can do it,” Sulphur head coach Jenny D’Alessandro said. “So I think we’re finally getting over that hump and realizing we are good.”
Sulphur extended its win streak to to 10 games, it best since a 15-game win streak took them to the Division I quarterfinals in 2020.
“It’s amazing,” D’Allesandro said. “I couldn’t be prouder of these girls and actually seeing that they believe in themselves and know that they can do it.”
In the final set, Westlake jumped out to a 5-1 lead. Sulphur rallied to take an 11-10 lead on a kill by Kori Gaudet, but the Rams moved within a point of winning with a 4-1 run with a string of kills Maddy Guillory, Zalee Prater and Margaret Jordan.
The Rams looked like they pulled the upset but Gabby Guillory hit landed just past the back line, leaving the score tie 17-17. The Tors score the nexts two points, closing he game on a kill by Kendall Judge.
“In the beginning I could feel that the girls were in some weird kind of trance,” D’Alessandro said. “It was like they were going through the motions, but there was no energy at the time.
“I think once they got to the end and realized like this game mattered, that is when they started picking up the pace and just being more aggressive with their balls.”
Judge led Sulphur with 16 kills, eight assists, 14 digs and two aces.
Westlake’s Prater (14), Jordan (12) and Shamira Guillory (12) combined for 38 kills, while Maddy Guillory had 45 assists, four aces and 18 digs.
Sulphur 25-22-25-19-17
Westlake 21-25-17-25-15
Westlake (2-4): Zalee Prater (14 kills), Margaret Jordan (12 kills), Shamira Guillory (12 kills), Maddy Guillory (45 assists, 4 aces, 18 digs), Gabby Guillory (7 kills, 26 digs). Sulphur (10-2): Jillian Gaudet (9 kills, 8 digs, 2 aces), Kendall Judge (16 kills, 8 assists, 14 digs, 2 aces), Brantli (8 kills), Addi Gaudet (9 digs, 2 aces), Kori Gaudet (28 assists, 8 digs).