The Hays Highway
The volleyball team at Hays High School struggled with injuries to make it through the regular season and into the playoffs. But the struggle with Pflugerville Connally was more than they could overcome.
The Rebels finished the regular season 20-18 after winning their last two matches against Steele and Del Valle to take the third playoff spot from District 26-4A. Connally came in on a much stronger note, 27-11, and played like it in the first round of the playoffs last Thursday at Dripping Springs.
Connally won the match 25-17, 25-13, 23-25 and 25-20. Obviously, the Rebels started slowly and came along as their backs were against the wall. That's what the game scores say. But on a game-by-game basis, the match went much differently.
The Rebels held a 14-11 lead in the first game, but Connally won it with a 14-3 rally at the end. The Rebels hung in early in the second game, trailing only 11-9 before Connally ran off 14 of the last 19 points to win.
Hays put together an 11-3 streak at the end of Game 3 for its only win of the match. But the struggle ended with a 25-20 loss in Game 4. The Rebels kept fighting in the final game after falling behind, 20-14.
Going out in the first round constitutes an unusually early exit for the Rebels, who have advanced to the regional finals the last two years. But regular-season injuries marked just entering the playoffs as an achievement this season.
