The McLennan Highlanders rallied from a two-set deficit to defeat the Collin Cougars 3-2 tonight in Frisco.
McLennan was on a roll at the beginning of the opening set, jumping out to an 11-4 lead. Collin rallied to score 10 straight points to go ahead 14-11 before the Highlanders stopped the rally. The Cougars held on to the three-point lead at 22-15 and ended the set on a 3-0 run to take it 25-19.
The second set was a back-and-forth battle with neither team holding more than a three-point lead until the very end. Collin led 22-20 and scored the final three points to take the set 25-20.
The tit-for-tat battle continued into the third set. McLennan held the one-point advantage at 16-15 and pushed it to 18-15 before a side out. The Highlanders continued to rally for the 25-20 win.
The momentum stayed with McLennan into the fourth. The Highlanders led by five at 9-4. Collin began to rally and cut the lead back to two 12-10. McLennan pulled away, pushing the lead to eight at 22-14 and held on for the 25-16 win to force the deciding set.
In the deciding set, Collin got first serve but couldn't capitalize. McLennan quickly went up 2-0 and pushed the lead to four at 6-2. The Highlanders would lead 8-4 at the side switch. Collin began to rally pulling within one at 9-8 forcing MCC to call a timeout to regroup. The Highlanders got the side out they needed and went back up 12-8 when the Cougars called a timeout to attempt and slow the McLennan momentum. The Cougars got the side out but the Highlanders held on for the 15-10 victory.
Conference play continues Saturday with a 1 p.m. match at North Central in Gainesville.
Match
McLennan 19 20 25 25 15 | 3
Collin 25 25 20 16 10 | 2
