Leonard, Texas -- All eyes in District 10-3A were watching for the results from Leonard on Friday, where the 3-1 Leonard Lady Tigers were hosting the 4-1 Howe Lady Bulldogs.

This turned out to be exactly the sort of match you would expect from a clash between two top-20 programs in Class 3A, with a relentless attack by the Leonard hitters eventually carrying the Lady Tigers to a five-set win over the Howe Lady Bulldogs.

Leonard sophomore Leah Stoy slammed down seven kills in the opener as  the Lady Tigers cruised to a 25-16 win.

Stoy had five more kills in the second set, with Bella Neaville putting down five kills and Avery Ross collecting three kills as Leonard went up 2-0 in the match with a 25-19 victory.

Howe returned the favor with a 25-19 win in the third set and then the Lady Bulldogs outlasted Leonard, 26-24, in the fourth set to bring the teams back out onto the court for a tiebreaker.

Stoy, Neaville and Ashlynn Cavender had early kills in the fifth set, but Howe answered every point. With the match tied 6-6, a pair of kills by Ross gave Leonard a two-point advantage.

Once again, Howe pulled even at 10-10.

A service error gave Leonard an 11-10 edge and a kill by Stoy gave the Lady Tigers a 12-10 lead. Howe picked up a point, but a tough save by Emma Houser set up another kill by Stoy to make the score 13-11.

Leonard stretched its lead to 14-11 and a final kill by Stoy put the finishing touches on a 15-11 win in the tiebreaker.  

Leonard improves to 4-1 in District 10-3A and moves into a tie for first place with Gunter.

The loss drops Howe a half-game back at 4-2.

Leonard will be on the road for matches at Pottsboro and Bells before hosting Gunter on October 6.

#3 Ashlynn Cavender- 8 kills, 1 block, 2 digs
#4 Jasper Cavender- 18 digs
#5 Emma Houser- 1 ace, 20 digs
#6 Caroline Holton- 3 kills, 4 digs
#7 Olivia Aylor- 5 assists, 33 digs
#8 Ava Flowers- 6 kills, 54 assists, 2 blocks, 23 digs
#9 Avery Ross- 10 kills, 1 block, 10 digs
#10 Madison Prather- 2 digs
#11 Trinity Newby- 2 digs
#12 Leah Stoy- 1 ace, 27 kills, 1 assist, 29 digs
#13 Avery Eaves- 1 dig
#14 Bella Neaville- 9 kills, 1 block, 6 digs

additional photos pending

photos by Allen Rich