The dump shot.
Something a setter does maybe once in a match. It's a simple concept: instead of setting up a teammate on the second shot, the setter quickly sets it over the net.
If done correctly, the normally harmless overset lands in the middle of an unsuspecting defense.
The effectiveness of the dump relies entirely on surprise.
Well, Robert E. Lee's Nicole Trpkosh and Genesis Borens used this sneak attack three separate times against Longview.
All three led to key late points for the Lady Raiders in a 3-0 sweep of Longview Tuesday at Varsity Gymnasium.
REL won 25-12, 25-23, 25-23 to raise its overall record to 23-11 and 4-3 in District 12-5A.
The loss dropped Longview to 12-22 and 1-6.
The first dump shot point occurred in Game 1 by Borens for a kill and was part of an early Lady Raiders onslaught.
The second one, however, came with the score tied 23-23 in Game 2. Trpkosh did not get a kill with her dump, but the scrambling Lady Lobos eventually made an error trying to return it.
This set up game point, which led to another Lady Lobos error for a 2-0 REL lead.
In the third and deciding game, Borens again put a kill on the stat sheet with her dump as part of a 3-0 Lee surge that enabled the Lady Raiders to close out the match.
It was the third district win for Lee and an important one for REL's ultimate goal of getting back to the playoffs.
"This is the second half of district, so coming out and starting really well was important," said Lee junior libero Taylor Winchester. "They are a team that (never lets up). They stay in and fight, so I am proud that we were able to pull through and (get the sweep)."
Winchester led all players with 27 digs. Lee junior Claire Himes finished with seven kills, with senior Rebekah Bowden totaling six kills and four blocks. Trpkosh had nine assists while Borens had seven assists and two kills, courtesy of those dump shots.
Longview was led in the loss by eight kills from Naqwavian Nelson and seven from Alesha Coffer. Chantrel Hutchings added three blocks.
The Lady Raiders are idle Friday before returning to District 12-5A play Tuesday at Rockwall-Heath.
———
District 12-5A
Robert E. Lee 3, Longview 0
Longview 12 23 21
Robert E. Lee 25 25 25
KILLS LEADERS — LV: Naqwavian Nelson, 8; Aleesha Coffer, 7. REL: Claire Himes, 7; Rebekah Bowden, 6.
DIGS LEADERS — REL: Taylor Winchester 27; Jamesha Hutton, 9.
ASSISTS LEADERS — LV: Maleia Wilson, 6; REL: Nicole Trpkosh, 9; Genesis Borens, 7.
BLOCKS LEADERS — LV: Chantrel Hutchings, 3. REL: Bowden, 4.
ACES LEADERS — REL: Jamesha Hutton, 2.
RECORDS — Longview 12-22 (1-6); Robert E. Lee 23-11 (4-3)
NEXT UP — Robert E. Lee at Rockwall-Heath, 6:30 p.m. Tuesday.