After erasing 2-1 deficit, Coppell keeps control to pull away in Game 5 to defeat San Antonio Johnson
SAN MARCOS, Texas — After winning Game 4 to tie the match, Coppell never stopped, looking dominant and winning the final game to defeat San Antonio Johnson, 3-2, in the Class 5A semifinals.
Coppell had the height advantage — four Cowgirls are 6 feet or taller — and Johnson relied on good communication and 23 kills by hitter Carnae Dillard to keep its team in the game. But Coppell is no stranger to facing elimination after being down 2-0 against Hebron just 10 days ago and rebounding to win, and the Cowgirls had enough to outlast Johnson in the fifth game.
Johnson emerged in the first game as the stronger team. It quickly pulled away 13-6 and never relinquished that lead, going on to win, 25-14.
The match was competitive from that point on. Both teams were strong at the net and on defense, and the match had multiple long rallies and a fast pace.
In the second game, Coppell never let Johnson escape to a lead like it did in the first, and the Cowgirls pulled away to a 20-14 lead. Johnson’s attempt at a comeback was weak, and Coppell won, 25-16, on a Kylie Pickrell kill.
Both teams looked competitive through the match’s final three games. Johnson, which held a small lead for most of Game 3, never pulled away but managed to win, 25-21, on an out-of-bounds hit by Coppell.
The situation reversed in Game 4, as Coppell held a small lead throughout before winning, 25-20. It carried that momentum, supported by strong offensive play by junior Chiaka Ogbogu, through the fifth game, winning, 15-10, and securing a spot in the finals.
Coppell will face McKinney Boyd on Saturday at 7 p.m.