By GALEN WELLNICKI

 The District 23-5A volleyball race has reached a pivotal point in the first round. Georgetown stands alone atop the standings with a 5-0 record after sweeping Bastrop Cedar Creek, 3-0, this past Friday and Pflugerville Hendrickson upending East View, 3-2, leaving both the Hawks and Patriots tied for second at 4-1.

  At 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at Eagle Gym, Georgetown, now 19-16, on the season, and East View, 18-9, will collide in a match that will determine the direction of the race, Hendrickson is expected to take another step forward when it faces PISD rival Connally (2-3 in 23-5A) at the same time on the Cougars' court.

  If coach Jenny Richardson's Lady Eagles beat the Patriots, they will stand 6-0 and own a two-match edge on East View and a probable one-match advantage over Hendrickson.

  However, if the Patriots claim the victory Tuesday, GHS, Hendrickson and East View probably will enter the final eight district games deadlocked at 5-1.

  The three front-runners will conclude the first half on Friday with Georgetown visiting Bastrop, Hendrickson entertaining Elgin and East View playing host to Connally.

  One key factor on the second half of the 14-game derby for playoff position is that GHS will face both Hendrickson (Oct. 14) and East View (Oct. 21) on the road.

  In last Friday's win over Cedar Creek (1-4, 2-20), the Lady Eagles got off to a slow start, rallying to win the first set and then dominating the final two sets, 25-10 and 25-11, with strong closing streaks.

  I'm happy to be 5-0 in district at the point," Richardson said. "I thought (senior outside hitter) Claire Mitchell and our two middles (senior Victoria Guyton and sophomore McKenzie Bernard) gave us strong performances. After seeing Cedar Creek on the court, I think they are underachieving."

  The Lady Eagles played without hard-hitting 6-foot-5 sophomore Addi Gaido, who was in Arizona training out with the 16-17u National Team Development Program. Richardson said Gaido would be back MOnday for the East View match.

  With Gaido off the court, the 5-foot-6 Mitchell put down 15 kills in 29 attacks, while senior Kate Stengle added 12 kills, including three late kills that allowed GHS to exit the first set with a four-point victory. GHS took the second set, scoring 23 of the final 29 points, and then scored 23 of the final 31 points in the third set to put away the victory. Match point came on a Cedar Creek serving error.

  Senior Alexis Flora was selected as GHS Player of the match with 30 digs, six aces and six assists. Senior Karsyn Hamons also had 18 digs.

  On the sub -varsity level, the Lady Eagles claimed the JV match, 2-0 (25-7, 25-8) and the Freshman White (A) also won 2-0 (25-11, 25-14). There was no Freshman Blue (B) match.

  Against East View Tuesday, the JV and Freshman White will play at 5:30 p.m. with Freshman Blue playing at 6:30 p.m.

***

FRIDAY'S DISTRICT 23-5A MATCH

At Cedar Creek

GEORGETOWN DEF. CEDAR CREEK, 3-0 (25-21, 25-10, 25-11)

 Season records: Georgetown, 19-16; Cedar Creek, 2-20.

 Georgetown statistics: Kills: 33-111 (14 errors). Hitting percentage: .171. Kill efficiency: 29.7. Individuals: Alexis Flora, 0-1; Claire Mitchell, 15-29; Karsyn Hamons, 0-2; Kate Stengle, 12-27; Sadie Mccauley, 1-4; Sophia Jazesf, 1-7; Victoria Guyton,1-8; Kamryn Shelton, 0-18; Abby Brent, 1-3; Ellie Quiroz, McKenzie, 1-4; Issabella Casanova, 1-7.

 Aces (9-73): Flora 6, Hamons 1, Bernard 1, Casanova 1. Total blocks (6): Mitchell 2, Stengle 1, Guyton 3,Bernard 2. Digs (78): Flora 30, Mitchell 1, Hamons 18, Stengle 14, Shelton 1, Brent 1, Quiroz 5, Bernard 2, Casanova 6. Assists (29): Flora 6, Stengle 9, Quiroz 1, Casanova 13.

***

 Cedar Creek statistics unavailable.

***

DISTRICT 13-5A IN A GLANCE

 Standings: GEORGETOWN, 5-0; Pflugerville Hendrickson 4-1; East View, 4-1; Pflugerville, 2-3; Pflugerville Connally, 2-3; Cedar Creek, 1-4; Elfin, 1-4; Bastrop, 1-4.

 Friday's results: Georgetown def. Cedar Creek, 3-0 (25-21, 25-10, 25-11); Hendrickson def. East View, 3-2 (20-25, 26-24, 25-23, 23-25, 15-12); Bastrop def. Elgin, 3-1 (25-17, 25-21, 18-25, 25-12); Pflugerville def. Connally, 3-1 (15-25, 25-7, 25-21, 25-18).

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

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

(END FIRST ROUND)