Lady Loboes Rebound, Bounce Lee
    By Randy Hogan, Staff Writer ~ The Monahans News, September 27, 2005

The Monahans Lady Loboes rebounded from an emotional night last Tuesday, to defeat the Midland Lee Rebels in straight games Saturday in Midland.

The Ladies blasted Lee 25-12, 25-21, 25-21 Saturday, and looked to regain their form from Tuesday's big win over Lubbock Coronado.

In the match, Brittany Hughes had 22 kills, 6 blocks, 6 digs, and two aces. Allison Miller followed with 7 kills, 1, block, and 1 dig.

Caherine Cutbirth recorded 9 kills, 1 block, 11 digs and an ace against the Lady Rebels. Bethany Willmon 4 kills, two blocks, 19 digs, and an ace.

Candace Swarb was huge in the match with an amazing 41 assists, and added 2 blocks and 5 digs.

Bailey Marcum followed up with 1 kill, 2 blocks, and 11 key digs. Dina Ortiz added 14 digs, and defensive specialist Paige Shaw finished with 3 digs on the night.

In the Coronado game Tuesday, the Ladies left everything on the court defeating the Lady Mustangs in five games 25-17, 25-22, 22-25, 15-12.

Hughes led the Ladies on Tuesday with 15 kills and Cutbirth had 10 kills and 19 digs to lead the Green. Marcum added 21 digs.

"We used everything we had against Coronado," Coach Patty Dominguez said . "We were focused and worked very hard to win the match."

With the victory, Monahans avenged their only loss of the season at the hands of Coronado in the San Angelo Nita Vannoy Invitational tournament last month.

Coronado also made it to the state tournament last season, but fell in the Class 5 A state championship game.

After five physical games with the Lady Mustangs, the Ladies took the court after a brief intermission and faced a fresh Odessa High team.

The Lady Bronchos only played one match, as they had fulfilled their maximum number of matches allowed by the UIL in a season schedule.

Monahans jumped out to a two-game lead against Odessa, but OHS played inspired volleyball in the third game, and rallied to push the match into the night, OHS won the match 14-25, 15-25, 25-21, 25-23,15-12.

Hughes chalked up 17 kills against OHS, and Allison Miller added 15 kills for MHS.

"They had nothing to lose being down 2 games in the match," Dominguez said.  "We gave everything we had physically against Coronado, and were succumbed by fatigue."

To their credit, the Ladies never quit. In the dual match with Coronado and OHS they played 10 total games in four hours on the court. 

The Lady Loboes were able to shake off the heartbreaking loss to Odessa High from last week, and punished the Bronchos District 4-5A counterpart Lee Rebels to improve to 30-2 on the season.   

The 2005 schedule continues to match the Ladies with the state's premier teams, as they travel to Lubbock Tuesday night to face the TAPPS 4A defending state champion Trinity Christian Mustangs at 5 pm.

The Lady Loboes have battled with the Lions three times this season, and in all three matches had to fight back from a one game deficit to tkae the match.

"It will be exciting once again," Dominguez said, "This time we will be playing in a best of five games match, and I expect them to challenge us again."

The Lady Loboes finish their non-district schedule Saturday in Midland, as they face the District 4-5 A leaders, Midland High Lady Bulldogs in a final tune up before District 3-3A begins.

Keyed By Jennifer Ray, Senior