Scholastic volleyball is an amazing sport. Seldom are competitive teams absolutely dominated in a match. The match system is designed to allow for huge swings in momentum and offers a contest wherein each set has a unique identity. 

Last Tuesday’s Mineola Lady Jacket match at Winona was just such a case. Each of the five sets had a unique signature. 

Mineola started on the front foot. They chalked up 11 offensive points, with scores by Olivia Hughes,    Jocelyn Whitehead, Riley Weekly, Gracie Finley and Mylee Fischer. An 8-point run built a big lead late in the set, and a Whitehead kill polished off set one, 25-12.

In the second set, Mineola was the beneficiary of 19 Lady Wildcat errors and mis-hits. The home side basically gifted the second set to the Lady Jackets. A late Winona surge closed the gap to two points, but Mineola stretched the lead and took the second set 25-18. Strong net play and consecutive kills by Mylee Fischer featured in the Mineola win.

Suddenly, the third set became very competitive. Winona began to piece together some offense, and the heightened resistance by the home side was clearly evident. Great blocking work by Fischer and scoring strikes by Whitehead broke an 11-11 tie and opened up a Lady Jacket lead. 

Mineola withstood a Winona challenge and stood on the precipice of a match sweep. Leading 24-17, the Lady Jackets just couldn’t put the set (and match) away. They gave up six unforced errors and one ace. The set was tied at 24. With 100% of the momentum, Winona forced a fourth set, with a 26-24 win.

Mineola never led in the fourth set. The psychological hurdle of having let the match sweep escape took a toll. It took half of the fourth set just to shake off the previous set. When the Lady Jackets did reawaken, solid contributions by Audrey Dowdle, Kloey Garcia, Finley and Hughes fueled the comeback. 

Mineola closed to within three points before falling 25-20.

The bumper set was tied five times and stood at 12-12 when Mineola finished it. A strong block by Fischer, an ace by Kenleigh Aguirre and a final kill shot by Whitehead sent the Lady Jackets home with a win.

The Lady Jackets finished up their district schedule at Mt. Vernon Tuesday after clinching a playoff spot with a three-game win over Chapel Hill Saturday, 25-23; 25-13, 25-16.

Mineola faces Atlanta in the bidistrict playoff Monday at 6 p.m. at Hallsville.