By GALEN WLLNICKI

Seventeenth-ranked Pflugerville Hendrickson rolled into Georgetown this past Tuesday night favored to successfully retain at least a share of the lead in the District 23-5A volleyball race. After the first set -- a 25-13 win -- the Hawks appeared to have their claws firmly clutched on the momentum that would accomplish their goal.

 But the Lady Eagles had another outcome in mind as they claimed the final three sets, 25-22, 25-14 and 27-25. Trailing by as many as eight points at 14-6 and 15-7 in the deciding fourth set, GHS scored seven consecutive points to turn what could have been a match-tying rout into a "barn burner."

 Hendrickson led 24-23, looking for set point, when Lady Eagles sophomore McKenzie Bernard served two aces to reverse the advantage to 25-24 GHS. However, a kill by Hawks' outside hitter Hannah Hicks evened the count at 25-25 before Lady Eagles senior Kate Stengle provided back-to back kills to determine the issue.

 Stengle was named Georgetown's player of the match with 13 kills -- six in the final set -- five aces, 14 digs and 19 assists.

 The victory, which improved GHS' season mark to 18-16, kept the Lady Eagles in a tie with arch-rival East View for the 23-5A lead and dropped Hendrickson into third place at 3-1. The Patriots protected their share of the lead with a 3-0 (25-11, 25-16, 25-12) victory over Pflugerville.

  While Georgetown travels to Bastrop Cedar Creek (1-3 in district and 2-19 for the season), Hendrickson, now 24-11 for the year, will entertain East View, 18-8 for the season and riding a five-match victory streak. GHS and East View will collide in their first of two 23-5A meetings at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at Eagle Gym.

  "It's great and amazing to be 4-0," said Stengle. "Our attitude was a big factor tonight. This gives up momentum going into the East View match."

  "Tonight, was great, said coach Jenny Richardson. "The kids came back strongly after a slow start. We had great support from our student body and fans. I'm so proud pf the kids. McKenzie Bernard was a key figure for us in the fourth set and here serving at the end was awesome."

   The Hawks followed the lead of Hicks, who was credited with seven first-set kills, and the serving of Cristiana Reyes to gain the early advantage as Hendrickson outscored GHS, 11-2, at the end of the opener.

   Georgetown reversed things in the second and third sets, playing well at the end of both sets. Two kills by 6-foot-5 sophomore Addi Gaido supplied the deciding points in the second set. In the third set trailing 10-9, the Lady Eagles broke away and outscored the Hawks, 16-4,in the race to the finish with Gaido providing the set point with a block.

   GHS hit .221 for the match (44 of 131 with 15 errors) with Gaido topping the kills chart with 14 in 39 hits. In addition to her key aces, Bernard figured in four blocks and senior Alexis Flora had a team-high 233 digs. Sophomore Issabella Casanova, who had her left shoulder pop out of joint in the match, returned to action when it was popped back into place, and she was able to serve near the end of the match.

   The Lady Eagles' JV remained unbeaten in district with a 25-17, 25-17 victory. The Freshman White (A) fell 2-0 (25-21, 26-24) and the Freshman Blue (B) won in straight sets.

   In addition, "To Hold the District Lead Night," The Lady Eagles celebrated Faculty Night and Madelyn Shoals night, honoring the memory of the student trainer, who passed away in 2018 after a year-long battle with brain cancer.

   Besides the varsity match at Cedar Creek Friday, the GHS JV and Freshman White will battle at 5:30 p.m. No Freshman Blue game is scheduled.

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TUESDAY'S DISTRICT 23-5A MATCH

At GHS Eagle Gym

GEORGETOWN DEF. PFLUGERVI::E HENDRICKSON, 3-2 (13-25, 25-22, 25-14, 27-25)

 Season records: Georgetown, 18-16; Hendrickson, 24-11.

 Georgetown statistics: Kills: 44-131 (15 errors). Hitting percentage: .221. Kill efficiency: 33.6. Individuals: Alexis Flora,0-3; Claire Mitchell, 4-18; Karsyn Hamons, 2-5; Kate Stengle, 13-30; Sophia Jazesf, 3-9; Victoria Guyton, 5-15; Kamryn Shelton, 2-4; Ellie Quiroz, 0-1; McKenzie Bernard, 1-6; Addi Gaido, 14-39; Issabella Casanova, 0-1.

 Aces (12-88): Flora 1, Hamons 2, Stengle 5, Bernard 2, Casanova 1. Total blocks (4): Jazesf 1, Bernard 4, Gaido 1. Digs (83): Flora 23, Mitchell 2, Hamons 12, Stengle 14, Jazesf 1, Guyton 5,Shelton 1, Brooklyn Trulove 1, Molly Edwards 4, Quiroz 6, Gaido 6, Casanova 2. Assists (37): Flora 3, Stengle 19, Casanova 15.

***

 Hendrickson statistics unavailable.

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DISTRICT 23-5A AT A GLANCE

 Standings: GEORGETOWN, 4-0; East View, 4-0; Pflugerville Hendrickson, 3-1; Pflugerville Connally, 2-2; Elgin, 1-3; Pflugerville, 1-3; Bastrop Cedar Creek,1-3; Bastrop, 0-4.

 Tuesday's results: Georgetown def. Hendrickson, 3-0 (13-25, 25-22, 25-14, 27-25); East View def. Pflugerville, 3-0 (25-11, 25-16, 25-12); Connally def. Bastrop, 3-2 (25-17, 21-25, 25-18, 25-27, 15-9); Cedar Creek def. Elgin 3-2 (25-23, 11-25, 25-23,23-25, 17-15).

 Friday's matches: Georgetown at Cedar Creek, 6:30 p.m.; East View at Hendrickson, 6:30 p.m.; Connally at Pflugerville, 6:30 p.m.; Elgin at Bastrop, 5:30 p.m.