Tyler Legacy sweeps Mesquite on Senior Night

Published 8:43 pm Tuesday, October 18, 2022

Tyler Legacy honored its seniors and kept its playoff hopes alive with a sweep of Mesquite (25-16, 25-12, 25-11) on Tuesday night at Tyler Legacy Varsity Gymnasium.

“It was great,” Legacy head volleyball coach Bryan Winegeart said. “We had one of our player’s mom pass away about a week ago, so they were playing for her. They dedicated this to her. They came out, played well and handled business tonight for her.”

Seniors for the Lady Raiders are Adele McCown, Mallory Thedford, A’yanna Prince, Megan Lininger, Shelby Huntsberger, Avery Armstrong, I’onna Jones, Ahava Young and Ronelle Samson.

Legacy was ahead 8-3 in the opening set before Mesquite went on a 5-0 run behind the stellar play of Amaya Johnson to tie the score. The Lady Raiders then used a 6-1 stretch of their own to go back in front.

With a 16-12 lead, Legacy used the serving of Alexis Correa to score five consecutive points. With the score at 23-16, Legacy got kills from Thedford and Lininger to take the first set.

Armstrong opened the second set with an ace before a kill by Mesquite’s Ava Reyes. Legacy then scored five consecutive points behind several big plays from Jones. With the score at 15-10, Legacy went on a 10-2 run to close the set.

On the set point at 24-11, it appeared that Young had the kill, but Mesquite’s Jasmin Williams kicked the ball into the air, and Sophia Chavarria hit it back over the net while Legacy was celebrating for a Mesquite point. The Lady Raiders then got a kill by Jones to win the set 25-12.

Legacy jumped out to a quick 12-2 lead in the third set. With the score at 15-7, the Lady Raiders scored five straight points, which included two kills from Jones. With the score at 24-11, Young delivered the match-finishing kill.

Legacy will host Royse City at 6:30 p.m. Friday. A Legacy win will force a tie between the Lady Raiders and Lady Bulldogs for the fourth and final playoff spot from District 10-6A.