GROESBECK — John Tyler rolled to three wins in pool play in the Groesbeck Tournament.

JT outlasted Waco in three games (25-12, 20-25, 25-19) and swept Taylor (25-11, 25-23) and host Groesbeck (25-23, 26-24).

The Lady Lions improved to 9-2 on the season. JT resumes play in the three-day round-robin even today with two matches against LaVega (Noon) and Bruceville-Eddy (4 p.m.).

“We’re trying to work on gelling as a team,” JT coach said Stephanie March-Smith, who cited Quaneshia Johnson for her setting and Jennifer McGowan for strong hitting. “We turned a new leaf (Thursday). We looked our best since we started.”

JT has won eight of its last nine contests. The Lady Lions went 5-1 last week at the Carthage Tournament en route to winning the gold bracket. JT lost to Tatum and defeated T.K. Gorman, Beckville, Troup, West Rusk and Grace Community.

Robert E. Lee sweeps Forney

FORNEY — Robert E. Lee earned its second sweep of the week as the Lady Raiders took down Forney, 25-20, 25-20, 25-11, Friday at Forney High School.

It is the second victory for REL (6-4) over Forney. The Lady Raiders defeated the Lady Jackrabbits last weekend at the Garland ISD Tournament.

REL coach Melissa Lee said her team’s net play was the difference.

“We did some good things tonight. We had a lot of blocks and touches at the net,” Lee said. “We started off a little flat and Forney played tough the first two sets, but in the third one they kind of (ran out of gas).”

Junior Mallory Kuechle paced the offense with 11 kills and nine digs with senior Rachel Johnston contributing eight kills. Setters Kalloway Hudson and Melissa Menard finished with 18 and 9 assists, respectively while Rebekah Bowden had five solo blocks.

Lee will play its first home match Tuesday as the Lady Raiders entertain Mexia and Pine Tree in a dual at Varsity Gymnasium. The opener featuring Lee and Mexia is slated to begin at 5 p.m. with the Lady Raiders and Lady Pirates tentatively scheduled for 7:30 p.m.

In the junior varsity match, Lee lost to Forney in three games, 19-25, 26-24, 25-23. Lee freshmen White team lost to Forney, 27-25, 25-19. 

Overton breezes through pool play at Westwood Tournament

PALESTINE — The Overton Lady Mustangs (7-0) breezed through pool play Thursday in the Westwood Tournament.

Overton swept Latexo (25-21, 25-19), Westwood JV (25-7, 25-11) and Frankston (25-21, 25-4) to win its pool and now away a fourth-place team from another pool in bracket play. The match is scheduled for 10 a.m. Saturday at Westwood High School.

Abby Mackey led the Lady Mustangs with a combined 31 kills, 14 digs and nine aces in the three matches. Other contributors were: Nekia Chappell (13 kills, three aces), Tori Williamson (six kills, 12 digs, five aces), Jacee Stuart (10 digs, five aces), Heather Raney (eight kills) and Savannah Bobbitt (48 assists, four kills, five digs and four aces). 

Troup drops home matches to Whitehouse, White Oak

TROUP — Host Troup dropped both ends of a dual match Friday falling to Whitehouse and White Oak.

Whitehouse stopped the Lady Tigers (25-8, 25-18, 25-14) before White Oak remained undefeated with a 25-18, 25-8, 25-18 win.

Against the Lady Cats, Troup was paced in the loss by Cheney Cover (five kills), Keraveon Rogers (4 blocks) and Allie Bowers (12 digs). Hunter Jordan and Carly Dyess finished with eight and seven assists, respectively.

In the loss to White Oak, Rogers led with six kills with Jordan tallying 10 assists.

Edgewood downs Kemp in four games

EDGEWOOD — Edgewood got past Kemp in four games in a non-district volleyball game Friday.

The Lady Bulldogs won 22-25, 25-12, 25-15, 25-21.

Edgewood was led by Micaela Brown (11 kills, two aces), Susan Agesen (seven kills, two aces, two blocks), Paige Parker (four kills, five aces), Kayl Douglas (four kills), Morgan McDaniel (three aces), Chandler Short (nine assists, two aces) and Allie Orrick (eight assists, one kill).

The Lady Bulldogs (8-3) return to action in the North Hopkins tournament against Roxton at 11 a.m. today.