SPRING BRANCH — Fittingly, the match between the Burnet High School volleyball team and Somerset needed five games to decide the winner Nov. 8 in the Class 3A regional quarterfinals.
But in the end Somerset, after falling behind 0-2, took the final three games to win the match, 13-25, 15-25, 25-17, 25-21, 15-12.
Burnet ends the season at 26-14, 9-1 in District 25-3A play.
Meanwhile Somerset’s historical season continues. The team will attend the regional tournament for the first time in the program’s history.
Head coach Norma Patlan, making her debut at the regional tournament in her 12th year as a coach, says two qualities helped her squad march through the playoffs.
“They came together and their chemistry on the court,” she said. “They love each other.”
Burnet took a 4-1 lead in the final set thanks to a kill by senior outside hitter Kati Maldonado. But Somerset junior Jocelyn Hillyer recorded a spike and sophomore Stacy Juarez earned back-to-back aces to tie the set.
Burnet went on a 4-0 run for their largest lead, but Somerset answered with a 6-0 run forcing its opponent into a timeout.
Even then Somerset had an answer for just about every move Burnet made.
At match point, Burnet scored two points, but Hillyer split the block for the match winner and the regional semifinals.
Kristen Spinn led Burnet with 24 kills, while Maldonado added 13 kills and 17 digs. Senior defensive specialist Casey Jo Stevens led with 26 digs and Ali Eaton recorded 49 assists.
Patlan said she always believed her squad could come back from the deficit. The coach gave her players one piece of advice before taking the court in the third set.
“Just play,” she recalled saying. “We got nothing to lose.”
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