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Return engagement: Coppell rolls past Clear Lake and into 5A finals
BY Scott White, Special to the Gazette
GARLAND -- The Coppell Cowgirls will get a chance to defend their state volleyball title on Saturday after overwhelming Clear Lake (25-17, 25-5, 25-14) Friday in the Class 5A State Semifinals at the Curtis Culwell Center.
It was a dominating performance by the defending champs, who jumped on the Lady Falcons from the start and never let up.
Clear Lake had no answer for Coppell's big three seniors of Erica Bohannon, Chiaka Ogbogu and Cassidy Pickrell. They finished with 18, 11 and 10 kills respectively to lead the Cowgirls' attack. Sophomore setter Kylie Pickrell showed no jitters on the big stage either, distributing 38 assists among six different attackers, who hit .473 as a team.
"I thought we really played well," said Julie Green, Coppell head coach, who is one win away from a third straight state title as a coach. "We knew they were big and scrappy, but I thought our girls were ready to play."
The Cowgirls had five sophomores on the floor at various times, but they seemed unfazed by the magnitude of the situation.
"We might have been a little tight at first, but we settled down pretty quickly," Green said. "The older kids had been here and I think they used their experience at state to help the younger ones."
For Clear Lake, the first trip to the state tournament since 1990 did not go nearly as well as they had hoped.
The Lady Falcons simply had no answer for Coppell's many weapons and once the Cowgirls gained momentum, there was no way to slow it down.
Sarah Strasner led the Lady Falcons' attack with seven kills, Megan Rasmussen added six and Alanna Winfield chipped in five as the team hit just .080 against the big Coppell block. Sam Volk finished her career with 22 assists and Ashlyn Smith had 14 well-earned digs to lead the back row.
"That's why they are Coppell," said Chanda Eager, Clear Lake head coach. "They had the experience of being here before, they are big, they are ranked No. 1 in state and it's hard to come in here to state and play against that.
"Still, we had a great year and no one can take that away from us."
Coppell now faces New Braunfels for the 5A title at 7 p.m. Saturday. The Lady Unicorns are coming off an emotional five-set win over McKinney Boyd.
"I know we will have a size advantage," Green said, "but they are quick and scrappy and we will have to be at our best."
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