LINDALE —Ninth-ranked White Oak and 15th-ranked Troup squared off in an exciting 2A Region III quarterfinal volleyball playoff matchup at Eagle Gymnasium in Lindale.
The teams knew each other well with White Oak's last loss coming against Troup during a pre-district tournament early in the season.
After five hard-fought matches, the Lady Roughnecks emerged with a 3-2 victory.
White Oak outlasted Troup, 26-28, 25-19, 25-21, 16-25 and 15-8 to raise its record to 33-9. Troup completed its season at 27-14.
White Oak got a huge match from Rebecca Green, who finished with 13 kills and five blocks. Audrey Lundstedt added in 10 kills, while Cayman Sutton chipped in with 34 assists and 14 digs. Kayla McCoy dished out 34 assists.
Troup was led in the loss by Josee Ross, who accumulated 19 kills, 27 digs and two service aces. Teammate Cheney Cover blasted down 16 kills and led backline with 32 digs. Carly Dyess finished with 42 assists.
The Lady Tigers struck first in the opening game behind six kills from Ross. Troup held off White Oak comebacks with the teams tying four times at 22, 24, 25 and 26 before Caitlyn Vickers slammed down a kill that helped Troup win 28-26 and take a 1-0 lead in the match.
White Oak shook off the setback in the first set to fire back with a 25-19 win in Game 2 to even the match. Troup committed eight unforced errors and White Oak's McCoy and Taylor Tramel stepped up on the frontline for the win with two kills and a service ace each.
In Game 3, more Troup unforced errors coupled with White Oak receiving offense from Madison Pecot and Green bolstered the Lady Roughnecks and White Oak led 19-14 en route to a 25-21 win.
Troup's Ross took over for the Lady Tigers in the game four to even the match and force a fifth and deciding set.
The teams traded shots in Game 5, but White Oak ultimately had just enough to see out a 15-8 win and is moving on to the regional semifinals.
White Oak will advance to play the winner of Rogers and Crawford at a site and time to be determined.