The Paris News

QUINLAN — Tuesday night’s bi-district playoff match was a constant uphill battle for the Chisum Lady Mustangs.

They claimed the first point of the match and took an early two-point lead after a kill shot by Mercedes Graham. Aside from a narrow setback in that first game and a win in the third, Chisum suffered from numerous mistakes and a hard-hitting Melissa Lady Cardinals squad. The Lady Mustangs ultimately lost to Melissa by scores of 23-25, 17-25, 25-20, 18-25 in the match at Quinlan Ford High School.

The loss put an end to the season for Chisum (27-8). Melissa (18-21) receives a bye in the area round and automatically advances to the regional quarterfinal round.

The Lady Mustangs faced communication problems and committed unforced errors throughout the match. They made a push to attempt to force a fifth game and trailed the Lady Cardinals 17-19 late in the fourth game.

Instead of continuing that push, Chisum was forced to relinquish two points because it was discovered the team was out of its rotation.

“That was a really crucial point that hurt us,” Chisum head coach Mary Musick said.

That swing put the Lady Mustangs at an even greater deficit, and the Lady Cardinals took advantage of it by closing the match with five of the final eight points.

One of those final Melissa kills was notched by junior Caitlin Jones. Jones and senior Bekah Newberry led the Lady Cardinals in kills. Newberry had 14 kills, while Jones had 11.

“Their hitters hit really well,” Musick said. “Our communication hurt us a little bit at the beginning, but they had some strong hitters and they showed up tonight.”

The miscommunication started early for Chisum, as it played a part in the team’s 10-3 deficit it faced in Game 1.

The Lady Mustangs closed that deficit and eventually took a 15-14 lead after a service ace by senior Kristen Hodges. The lead then wavered between the two teams before a kill by Newberry gave Melissa the win.

A service ace by Shelby Hill set the pace for Melissa in the second game, as the team led Chisum for the entire game.

It was almost a role reversal in Game 3, as Chisum took an early lead. Melissa charged back to tie the game at 19-all. Graham, who led all Chisum players with 13 kills, finished Game 3 with the final two kills to give Chisum the victory.

Sierra Hurley had 11 kills for Chisum, while Shelbie Monkres added nine. Lauren Richardson led the team in assists with 23 and Taylor Halliburton added 12 assists. Allie Moore had 14 defensive digs.

Tuesday’s match was the final one in the high school tenures of the seven seniors on the Chisum squad that was the second-place team in District 12-2A. The squad also became the first team to defeat the Prairiland Lady Patriots in a district contest since 2004. Those seniors are Moore, Halliburton, Hurley, Graham, Hodges, Monkres and Dayna Butler.

“We had a good year,” Musick said. “We finished in second place and we beat Prairiland. I’m still really proud of them.”

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