LESLEY SANCHEZ

TYLER – District 16-4A champ Spring Hill volleyball traveled to The University of Texas at Tyler’s Louise Herrington Patriot Center for an Election Night edition of a Class 4A Division II bi-district playoff game with District 15-4A’s Brownsboro on Tuesday, and finalized the match’s results early during a 25-7, 25-15 and 25-12 opening round sweep.

The Lady Panthers will bring an improved 41-3 season record to the upcoming Class 4A Division II area round matchup against either District 13-4A’s Farmersville or District 14-4A’s Pleasant Grove at a day, time and location later this week.

The Bearettes, meanwhile, finished the year with an 18-21 mark.

“It feels great,” Spring Hill volleyball coach Andrew Harbison said of his team’s fast start to the postseason. “It’s always good to get your team rolling. We [now] get ready for our next match, and stay focused and hungry.”

Spring Hill enjoyed a fast start in the first set of the match with Lesley Sanchez’s two kills, Savannah Irwin’s two kills, and Calleigh Secord’s block set up an early 14-2 lead.

The Lady Panthers then leaned on Elizabeth Corbitt’s two kills, Irwin’s one kill, and blocks by Sanchez and Trinity Moser to finish off a 25-7 set one win.

Sanchez guided Spring Hill to the eventual match victory with her 10 kills, three blocks, three digs and two assists, Irwin earned nine kills, two digs and one block, and Corbitt contributed eight kills and three digs.

The Lady Panthers continued to cruise in the second set because Sanchez’s two kills, Alexa Johnson’s block and Corbitt’s ace gave them an early 6-1 lead.

Johnson and Irwin then teamed up for a block at the net, and Sanchez scored and partnered with Johnson on a block to set up an 18-2 advantage.

Brownsboro finally found its footing during a 11-2 run that cut the gap to 20-13. The Bearettes benefitted from Chyann Stidham’s ace, a block from Ayden Wyatt and Tiykeah McKenzie, and McKenzie’s kill.

But, Spring Hill returned to form during a 5-2 stretch because Tyhia Mack scored before Johnson earned a late kill that wrapped up a 25-15 set two win.

Spring Hill jumped out to a 9-3 lead in the third set because Sanchez and Irwin produced back-to-back kills before Sanchez added a block.

The Lady Panthers continued to slam the ball because Irwin and Corbitt earned a kill before Secord produced two more to make it a 16-5 game.

Spring Hill had more in the tank because Mack scored, Corbitt provided back-to-back points, and Johnson and Irwin teamed up for a block to make it 22-8.

Brownsboro cut the gap to 23-11 during McKenzie’s kill, but Spring Hill finished off a 25-12 win during Sanchez’s ace.