MAKING THE TURN: Lady Cubs look to snap losing streak in second round of district

WACO – After closing out the first round of District 17-3A play with a five-match losing streak, the Clifton Lady Cub volleyball team looks to turn its fortunes around when they visit the Waco Harmony Science Academy today at 5 p.m. to open the second round of competition.

Last Friday, the Whitney Lady Wildcats swept past the Lady Cubs in straight sets, 25-17, 25-19, 25-14, at the Clifton High School Gymnasium. The loss left Clifton (2-5, 15-17) two games behind Rio Vista (4-3, 14-12) in the battled for one of the district’s four postseason berths.

“The girls did a great job sticking to the game plan we had created for the game against Whitney,” Clifton volleyball’s first-year head coach Paige Poth said. “They played hard and worked together to adjust when we were in holes.”

Sophomore Ava Anderson led the Lady Cubs with 11 kills, followed by senior Josephine Burke with four as well as freshmen Carly Caniford and Elizabeth Scott with three apiece. Junior Bailey Ledbetter contributed team-highs with 15 digs and 17 assists, while senior Audrey Anderson came up with 13 digs. Serve receiving duties where led by Ava Anderson (19), sophomore Kasandra Gaona (15) and Audrey Anderson (14).

“Going into the second round we have to stay focused on the game plans we create for each opponent and focus on the goals set in place,” Poth said.

In other District 17-3A action today, Class 3A’s fifth-ranked West (7-0, 31-4) will host Keene (1-6, 3-16), 11th-ranked Maypearl (6-1, 27-7) plays host to Rio Vista, Whitney (5-2, 27-11) visits Grandview (3-4, 16-14).