Lady Blues stun Brownwood in five-set marathon

Graham was more than happy to pull out an exhilarating five-set victory at home Friday evening.

The Lady Blues were also exhausted.

“I told my girls after the win, that was the best team-play we have had this season,” said Lady Blues head coach Marci Faulk. “We needed everyone on our team tonight and we were able to get it done.”

Graham (13-4) needed every bit of that effort to hold off a very-good Brownwood team in a (22-25, 25-20, 23-25, 25-20, 16-14) thriller in a match which lasted over two hours.

Brownwood entered the game with just a mere 7-8 record, but six of those matches have came against either Class 5A or 6A competition.

Facing elimination in the final set, trailing 14-13, Graham pulled off a miracle win over a possible first round playoff opponent. The Lady Blues rolled off three straight points, including a final dagger ace from Lilli Brockway to stun the visiting Lady Lions and send the Graham fans to their feet.

Despite leading 9-5 in the opening set, the Lady Blues couldn’t sustain the momentum, before Brownwood rallied to win the set which featured five ties 25-22 for a 1-0 lead in the match.

The second set might have been the difference in the game according to Faulk. Graham jumped out to a 11-4 advantage to start the second set and later, after the Lady Lions pulled to within 21-19, scored the final three points to take the second set. Alex Husen provided two kills late down the stretch to help her team even the match.

“I’m not sure many people realized, but our last five points came without having a senior on the court,” Faulk said. “That’s what...

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