Alba-Golden, Mineola and Quitman volleyball sides participated in tournaments last week. The Lady Panthers were in Gilmer (see related story), the Lady Jackets in Van and the Lady Bulldogs at North Hopkins High School. 

Early season tournaments are used to build experience over a short period of time. As such they are invaluable in team-building as well.

A good example of those benefits was Mineola’s 9 a.m. match in Van on Saturday morning versus Wills Point.

Both teams advanced into the Gold Bracket after solid showings on Thursday of tourney play.

Game one was a close affair with Wills Point retaining the edge through most of the set.

An emphatic block by Journie Wilson gave Mineola a late 19-18 edge.

The score was tied thrice more before being decided with a Lady Jacket scoring flurry: two push shots by Milo Reed and an ace by Lucy Goodson. 

The second set was a near mirror imagine. Neither side could sustain a rally.

The set turned on a Canyon Redding kill which broke a 20-20 tie. Three kills from Mahayla McMahon – two from the left wing – decided the set and the match.   

The next opportunities to see the three local teams in action at their home courts will be Sept. 2 (Wills Point at Mineola), Sept. 5 (Rivercrest at Alba-Golden) and Sept 9 (Grand Saline at Quitman).