Posted by
Mark Kusenberger on November 3, 2009 at 4:44 pm
After defeating Johnson City, Navarro will face Salado
by Mark Kusenberger
SAsports.com Senior Writer
The Navarro Panthers opened the 2009 playoffs in dominating fashion, sweeping the Johnson City Eagles 25-14, 25-7, and 25-7 Monday night at Canyon Lake High School.
Navarro, runners-up in District 28-2A, took an early 10-2 lead in the first set before Johnson City, third in District 27-2A, rallied to pull within 12-10. From that point on, the Panthers were dominant, outscoring Johnson City 63-18 for the remainder of the match.
Navarro took a 6-0 lead in the first set on Noelle Kubenka’s serve, which included two aces. With the score 10-2, Adrienne Pabon, a junior and easily Johnson City’s tallest player, won five straight points on her serve, including two aces, to rally the Eagles within 10-8. Once the score was 20-14, Navarro pulled away for good, scoring the final five points of the set on Sydawnie Douglass’s service; Douglass’s last three serves were aces.
Of Johnson City’s 14 points in the first set, six came on kills by Pabon and two more came on her aces. Douglass and Hannah Bonds each made three kills during the set.
Kubenka opened the second set with 10 straight points, helped by three kills each from Douglass and Bonds. Toward the end of the set, Navarro coach Jackie Moore was substituting freely; the Panthers won four of their last five points on the serves of Nicole Pollok, a junior off the bench.
Douglass scored 8 kills during the second set, including five of Navarro’s last eight points. Bonds added six kills. Johnson City did not win a single point on their own service during the second set.
Johnson City’s Bailey Zoeller won a point on her serve to start the third set thanks to a Pabon kill; it provided the Eagles’ only lead of the night at 1-0. Another Douglass kill gave Navarro back the serve and tied the game; then Kubenka served the next six points to give the Panthers a secure 7-1 lead. More bench players got involved for Navarro, as sophomore Dani Schmidt served five points and senior Marissa Gutierrez served 4 on the way to building Navarro’s lead to 18-3. When Johnson City won back the serve to pull within 18-4, Pabon served three more aces to make it 18-7. A Casey Braun kill ended the Eagle run, then sophomore Kristian Barry served out the set; five of her six serves, including the last four, were aces.
Kubenka scored 21 points on her serve for the match. Douglass and Bonds led the Panthers with 14 and 12 kills respectively.
Navarro enjoyed advantages in size and experience over Johnson City. While Navarro fielded 8 seniors on their team, Johnson City had just two, only one of whom started (Zoeller.)
Navarro, having defeated the Johnson City Eagles, will take on the Salado Eagles in the second round; the match is set for Thursday night in Bastrop. Salado, champions of District 25-2A, are ranked #14 in the state.
Posted by
Jay Tope on March 3, 2009 at 8:04 am
Everyone here at SAsports.com wishes the best for the freshman, sophomores, and juniors who are taking the TAKS test today. Think positively, eliminate distractions, and success will follow.
God bless you guys!
- Jay Tope
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