REL encouraged after first week of season

Published 6:09 pm Sunday, August 14, 2011

Robert E. Lee volleyball went 2-1 Saturday to complete the first week of the season with a 4-4 record.

The Lady Raiders took down South Grand Prairie (25-17, 25-22) and fellow 11-5A foe Mesquite Horn (25-15, 25-21), but lost to Cedar Hill (25-21, 15-25, 26-24) in the Garland ISD Volleyball Tournament.

REL coach Melissa Lee admitted there were trepidations bringing her inexperienced team to this tournament, but said the Lady Raiders are now full of confidence.

“I didn’t know what to expect coming into this tournament and the fact that we came away with four wins. I am real proud of the way they played,” Lee said. “We saw three district teams at this tournament and our expectations for district are higher now.”

REL began the day sweeping Grand Prairie. Junior Mallory Kuechle led the offense with nine kills while senior Ashley Jovanovich tallied nine digs. Setters Melissa Menard and Kalloway Hudson dished out nine and eight assists, respectively, with Rachel Johnston finishing with four kills.

In the loss to Cedar Hill, Kuechle finished with 12 kills and 14 digs while Hudson had 13 assists and nine digs. Sophomore Mallori Dike also finished with 10 digs.

The Lady Raiders saved the best for last, defeating district foe Mesquite Horn. Kuechle led on offense with eight kills to go along with six digs. Johnston had six kills with Hudson tallying 12 assists and Rebekah Bowden finishing with three solo blocks.

Lee will next face Whitehouse at 6 p.m. Tuesday at Whitehouse’s Wildcat Gymnasium.

Lee JV Wins Own Tournament

Robert E. Lee’s junior varsity volleyball team hosted and won its JV tournament on Saturday.

The Lady Raiders defeated Whitehouse 25-18, 25-21 in the final.

In the freshman tournament, Pine Tree A beat Whitehouse 25-14, 25-15 in the final.

John Tyler took third in the JV tournament, topping Lee 9th 25-16, 25-14.

The junior varsity all-tournament team included: Chelsea Jeter and Jaina Giddens (Lee); Riley Williams and Autumn Crymes (Whitehouse); Jocelynn Brown and Dakia Allen (JT); Hailey Hurst (Lee 9th); and Taylor White (Henderson).

The Lady Raiders won third place in the freshman tournament, coming from behind to beat Lufkin 25-27, 25-19, 25-10.

Lee’s Emily Starr and Kabresha Orange made the all-tournament team.