GEORGETOWN There was quite a bit on the line as two longtime rivals in Georgetown and Leander met at Georgetown High School Tuesday night for a crucial District 25-5A volleyball match.
Both teams were fighting for playoff positioning, both played hard, and both teams showed the grit that has made each a playoff contender.
And in the end, it was the team whose coach was celebrating a birthday who enjoyed the win.
Georgetown coach Jenny Richardson got some extra icing on her piece of cake with a 25-21, 25-18, 25-23 win that kept the Eagles tied with Liberty Hill in third place at 4-2 in District 25-5A. First-place Cedar Park, which has yet to lose a district game, visits Georgetown Friday.
While Richardson may be a year older, her team is certainly young with just three seniors compared to seven sophomores.
“Any win this group gets is a good win,” said Richardson, who is in her 13th year as Georgetown’s coach. “I think this is youngest team I’ve had in the last four years. I think this showed them how good they can be. This is the boost these kids needed heading into our match Friday.”
The Eagles (8-5 overall) hit 32.8% while slamming 44 kills, including 14 kills from junior Grace Watkins and 11 more from senior move-in Lily Barker. Watkins added eight digs and two aces, while Barker had 18 digs, two aces and had a hand in two blocks.
Talented junior setter Annika Flora dished out 35 assists to go with 20 digs, seven kills and two total blocks.
Leander (6-9, 3-4) made Georgetown work for the home win behind 10 kills from junior Grace Luevanos, four total blocks from Halle Ousley and 31 assists from Callie Carrejo. Led by veteran coach Ashley Atkinson, the Lions trail Liberty Hill and Georgetown by two games entering the second round of district play.
“Playing or doing anything against Ashley Atkinson isn’t easy,” Richardson said. “Being her good friend is easy but playing her isn’t. She’s such a great coach; she has her players ready for every single match.”