Farmersville junior Breelynn Pollard sets up a teammate for a hitting attempt during a pool play game at the Top of Texas Tournament last Thursday. Photo by Tina Lopez / C&S Media
By David Wolman
Following a second-place finish at the Central Heights Tournament that earned them a state ranking, the Lady Farmers, now No. 14 in Class 4A, continued to pile on the wins last week.
Farmersville outlasted Mesquite Poteet in three sets last Friday to earn its 15th win of the season – all part of a solid showing at its home Top of Texas Tournament – and earned a sweep of Edgewood to open the week.
Against Edgewood, Farmersville (15-4) started fast and never looked back in cruising to a 3-0 (25-13, 25-14, 25-18) win over the Lady Bulldogs from Farmersville Arena on Aug. 19.
The Lady Farmers fed off the energy of an all-around effort from junior Rylie Cottongame, who had a near triple-double with eight service aces, 11 assists and 12 kills. She and fellow junior Peighton Purser proved to be an unstoppable duo with their hitting. Purser led the way offensively with a team-high 15 kills while also contributing two aces, two blocks and six digs.
Junior Breelynn Pollard ran the offense well and finished with 15 assists and four digs. Isabella Lopez, also a junior, recorded 13 digs to pace Farmersville’s defensive efforts.
Two days later, Farmersville returned to its home court for the start of the Top of Texas Tournament. Maypearl gave Farmersville quite the challenge to begin the first match of pool play for both teams, but the Lady Farmers finished strong to earn a 25-20, 25-15 triumph over the Lady Panthers last Thursday.
Farmersville made it two straight wins with a 25-17, 21-25, 29-27 win over Class 2A’s No. 12 Lindale.
The Lady Farmers faced match point in the third set, trailing 24-21, but fought back to level the score at 24-24 after a Lindale player tipped the ball out of bounds. Eight points later, Cottongame completed the comeback with a kill from the left side.
Serving helped Farmersville take a 1-0 lead in the best-of-three match. The Lady Farmers notched eight service aces in the first set, four by senior Ja’Dyn Kirby. Her last two aces, which came on back-to-back points, gave Farmersville a 19-13 lead. Purser helped Farmersville create more separation by adding three kills over a span of five points before Lopez capped off the victory with the eighth ace by the Lady Farmers.
In the second set, Farmersville overcame a sluggish start to take a 15-12 lead on another Purser kill. However, Lindale made defensive adjustments and also used its height advantage to make big plays down the stretch run and level the proceedings at one set apiece.
Lindale led for most of the third set and took a 24-21 lead after a kill. Farmersville didn’t lead until a service error by Lindale gave the Lady Farmers a 28-27 lead. One point later, Cottongame polished off the comeback with a kill.
The Lady Farmers wrapped up the first day of pool play with a 25-19, 25-18 win over Nocona.
Farmersville dominated Vega 25-18, 25-8 to begin the second day of pool play.
Hereford handed Farmersville its first loss of the tournament a short time later after the Whitefaces downed the Lady Farmers 2-1 (21-25, 26-24, 25-23).
Although Farmersville earned a bounce-back 18-25, 25-16, 25-17 win over Mesquite Poteet in their next match, the Lady Farmers lost both matches in gold bracket play. Caddo Mills topped Farmersville in three sets and Lindale topped the Lady Farmers in two sets in the consolation first round.
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