The area volleyball teams battled in the first round of the playoffs and all four Freestone County schools remain alive in the state volleyball playoffs in their respective regions and classifications.
Teague (at top) had been eliminated in the first round of the playoffs for the last seven years but advanced with a 3-1 victory over the Thrall Lady Tigers at Mumford High School Thursday night. They dropped the first game to Thrall 25-18, and came back to win the next two games, 25-19 and 25-15. The fourth game was hard fought by both teams, and the Lady Lions built a slim lead in the game and made it hold up in 25-21 match clinching win. They move on to face the West Lady Trojans on Tuesday, embarking on new ground for coaches and players. West endured a marathon win over Scurry-Rosser in the opening round (25-21, 23-25, 20-25, 25-22, 15-13) and the advancing team will take on the winner of Hardin and East Bernard. West and Teague will battle at Robinson High School on Tuesday.
The Fairfield Lady Eagles made quick work of the Little River-Academy Lady Bees on Thursday night in the opening round of the playoffs. They swept Academy with convincing 25-12 and 25-14 wins and dominated the third set with a 25-9 victory. They move on to take on the Grandview Lady Zebras in Robinson on Tuesday night. This is a rematch of the area game last years when the Lady Zebras pulled the upset and eliminated Fairfield. Grandview comes into the area game with a win over Whitney (25-14, 25-14, 25-12). The game is set for Robinson High School on Tuesday night, and the winner will face the Woodville and Van Vleck winner.
The Wortham Bulldogs kept their playoff streak alive at 27 years and had to go five sets to claim the bi-district win in the opening round of the Class 2A Division I playoffs. They dropped the first two games to Italy at Rice High School, 21-25 and 22-25 but surged to even the match with a pair of 25-12 and 25-21 game wins. The fifth set was a battle of wills and Wortham edged Italy 15-11 to claim the berth in the area round of the state playoffs. The Lady Bulldogs move on to take on the Riesel Lady Indians, who swept the Bruceville-Eddy Lady Eagles (25-22, 25-19, 25-19). The game is set for Hubbard High school, and the winner takes on the winner of Collinsville and North Hopkins.
Oakwood, playing in the 1A division had a first round bye and advance to match up with Ector in the area round. Ector defeated Miller Grove in the first round with a straight set win (25-10, 25-11, 25-22.)
