Article contributed by Glenn Parish, Communications Director, Booneville School District
Sophomore Caroline Diffee took over serving for team Purple trailing White 6-4 after a long serve in the rubber game of the annual Purple-White game last night.
Purple would go on to a 15-10 set win to take the match, 2-1.
Diffee was still there when Kaylee Ray threw down a kill for a 7-6 lead and White took a time out.
Nothing changed as the lead grew to 11-6 with Diffee throwing in a pair of aces.
Christina O’Neal finally broke serve for team White but White could not hold serve until a wide return made it 14-10.
White was wide on one as well to end it at 15-10.
Never trailing – it was tied at 2-2 – Purple had won the first set 25-16.
Cameron Parish had a pair of aces in a run that made it 6-2 and the lead was eventually 17-9 before Addison Elmore registered a kill for White.
A kill by Brooklyn Phillips had White within 17-13 but with Parish serving, and adding another ace, the lead grew to 20-13.
It was two Ray kills that closed it out.
White was in control much of the early going of set 2 with a pair of Taylor Villarreal aces staking them to a 3-0 lead.
Purple would draw even at 7-7 before a Christina O’Neal kill and a pair of Presley Walker aces had White in front again.
A Jamie Reed ace got Purple within one and they eventually drew even at 18-18 on an ace by Emma Fox, then went on to lead 21-19.
A Phillips block and Christina O’Neal ace tied it again at 21 and it was tied at 22 before Taylor Danekas kill put Purple ahead.
One by Parish gave Purple a chance for the sweep.
But a service error retied it at 24 and a long return gave White a chance to win it and Christina O’Neal delivered a kill for a 26-24 win.
Vanessa O’Neal had started the third set on serve, delivering an ace for a 2-0 lead but White scored six of the next seven points before Diffee took over serving.
The Bearcats will travel to Lavaca on Thursday for a benefit game. it is varsity only and starts at 5:30 p.m.
