Opening the Postseason...

Hardin-Simmons started what is going to be the first of many post-season volleyball matches I'll cover over the next couple of weeks with a match against East Texas Baptist in the quarterfinals of the American Southwest Conference tournament and then a couple days later with the finals against UT-Dallas. It was the first time in a few weeks that I got to see a competitive match. Lately I've been covering a lot of 3-game sweeps, so to see the team I was covering get pushed to four games was kind of welcome for once. It also left me with more opportunities for pictures.

The first match going four games happened on deadline and while I was glad for the extra time it did make me a little nervous about getting back, but I knew as long as they didn't got to a fifth game, I'd be back in plenty of time. It also gave me plenty of time to get an idea who the hitters and the best defensive players were since this was only the second time in the season I had gotten to shoot them.

For the Cowgirls championship match against UT-Dallas, I was kind of hoping for an extra game since I was getting to the match a little late after having to cover a football game that went to overtime. However, that didn't happen, the teams did stretch every game out about as far as they could though, with all three ending 25-23. I guess that was just as good, besides, I pretty much knew what my photo was going to be and it was going to happen at the end of the match. The great thing I have always like about volleyball is since they celebrate pretty much every point, I know at the end there will certainly be a good celebration there.

Crosstown Volleyball, College Style...

The week before Halloween is always Crosstown Rivalry week, not only for the high schools but also for the two local D3 colleges, McMurry and Hardin-Simmons. It's kind of weird this year though, since McMurry is moving up to play NCAA Division II next year, so this is the last time the week both the volleyball and football games will be combined. It's not going to be quite as fun next year, but the week won't be as busy as well either.

When they played earlier this year, McMurry won the first game pretty easily and then Hardin-Simmons ended up winning the next three straight games to take the match in four games. This time McMurry won the first game in a blowout, then Hardin-Simmons came back to win the next two games pretty easily. It was looking like deja vu all over again. This time, however, McMurry ended up winning the next match, forcing a fifth game. Now, not only is it rare to see a five-game volleyball set, it's even more rare for me to stick around for all five games. But, given the rivalry and the emotions flowing I figured I'd stick around for the whole thing. Plus, they only play the final game to 15, so at least it'll go a little quicker. And, the added bonus is since they were playing so close the final two games I knew there would be some great emotion from the win, and given the heated rivalry, that just added to things.