Getting the ball past the hands of a Milano defender at the net is Lady Bulldog Ashley Mao during their regional quarter final game Monday night, November 7th in Bremond.
The Wortham Lady Bulldogs advanced to the regional quarterfinals and took on the Milano Lady Eagles. Wortham fell to the Lady Eagles in three games and were eliminated.
The first game was dominated by Milano. They jumped out to a 13-0 lead with Cashlyne Blake in serve and Camille Messer firing several kills in the process. The Lady Eagles coasted to a 25-8 win.
Game two was much more competitive but the Lady Eagles prevailed 25-20. Junior Kayla Lansford kept the Lady Bulldog lead with three kills in the early moments with Kate Vogel earning three midway through the game. Milano hit a nice streak to gain the lead and pull away. The Lady Eagles held a constant lead throughout the third game and won 25-13 and claimed the match.
First year coach Deanna Whaley summed up the season by stating, “I am so proud of these girls for giving me the opportunity to coach them this season. Wortham lost four players with MVP honors and left us with two returning players. My girls were told that they wouldn’t win district or make it past the first round of the playoffs. The more I pushed my girls, the harder they worked.”
The District honors were able to be released and Whaley was named Coach of the Year in District 14AA. First team honors went to Kayla Lansford, Hallie Fautt (so.), and Jayde Hamilton (so.).
Sophomore Ashley Mao was named to the second team and Brianna Samuels, Sterling Gentry and Darcy Taylor were honorable mentions.
Kate Vogel was named the District 14AA MVP and is one of two seniors that played their last game for Wortham High School. All eight players earned academic all-district awards.
