High School Sports

By HAROLD WILSON
Staff Writer

Briona Jordan and Alexis White tag-teamed to help John Tyler reach double-digit wins for the first time in three seasons.

With the senior hitters leading the way, JT evened its record again with a 3-1 win over Mabank Tuesday at the Lions Den.

In the process, JT (10-10) moved two wins past last year's victory-total with nearly a month remaining before district starts.

Jordan, a senior hitter, recorded seven kills, including the match-clincher, to put the finishing touches on a 25-15, 25-17, 19-25, 25-23 triumph.

White, a senior middle blocker who recently returned from injury, aided the JT cause all across the floor with eight kills, eight service points and three blocks.

What was scheduled to be a tri-match turned into a two-team affair after Carthage canceled due to inclement weather that forced the cancellation of schools in the town.

JT rolled through the first two sets, never trailing a single point. JT closed the first set with the last five points off the serve of GabriElla Wilson, and in the second set ran off five straight points with Black behind the line to break a 3-3 tie.

Mabank cooled off JT in the third set and cut a 10-point deficit to one in the fourth game after trailing the entire way.

"I'm glad they won, but I'm not excited," said JT coach March-Smith, who was also in charge of the program when the Lady Lions won 23 games in 2005. "We need to be able to finish in three. We have to be able to execute consistently."

Chelsea Black, a sophomore setter, topped JT in two different departments -- assists with 17 and service points with 11.

Shakendra Mumphrey, a sophomore hitter, chalked up six kills while Wilson, another 10th-grader, paced JT in blocks with five.

Other contributors included Kelsey Oliver (five kills), Monecia Preston (14 assists) and Kelvicia Warren (seven points, two digs).

Mabank (7-12) received a team-high 13 kills from Alison Castle. In the third game, Castle contributed six kills to help Mabank force a fourth set.

The well-rounded effort pleased March-Smith, who rotated nine players for the most part.

"That's the whole goal," March-Smith said of getting production from multiple players. "It makes everyone have an opportunity."

In the junior varsity contest, JT lost in three games (25-19, 16-25, 26-24) after having a match point in the final set on the 48 th point.

Before opening district play on Sept. 26, JT gets five more tune-ups -- the first at Longview on Friday.

"We're just trying to get ready for district," March-Smith said. "But I think we're getting stronger and stronger."

POWERING OVER THE BLOCK: John Tyler middle hitter Alexis White slams a spike over the Mabank blockers in a volleyball match Tuesday at the Lions’ Den.
(Staff Photo By Herb Nygren Jr.)