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HEWITT -- A&M Consolidated and North Mesquite played 142 points and 72 minutes Monday night, but their bi-district volleyball match was determined during an eight-point spell at the end of Game 1.
Consol fought off two game points and rallied to win the opening game 29-27, then cruised through the next two games 25-17, 25-10 to sweep the playoff match at Waco Midway High School.
The 24th-ranked Lady Tigers improved to 32-7 overall, earning a place in the area round. Consol will play later this week against the winner of Tuesday's match between Richardson and South Garland.
North Mesquite finished the season at 22-17.
North Mesquite, the No. 4 seed from District 11-5A, gave the 12-5A champion Lady Tigers all they could handle in the opening game. Consol took its first lead at 14-13, and the game stayed close the rest of the way.
North Mesquite had game points at 26-25 and 27-26, but Consol survived both on kills by Shelby Dickson and Mimi McFarland. The Lady Tigers won the last three points, with Dickson's back-row spike setting up game point, when setter Hillary Parker connected with McFarland for the kill.
"I think we came out maybe a little bit overconfident," McFarland said. "Coming out like that and watching them perform the way they did was a wake-up call. We needed to pick it up, and that's what we did."
The Lady Stallions never recovered from the lost opportunity. North Mesquite gave Consol 15 points with mistakes in the second game.
"The end of Game 1 definitely set the tone for the next two games," McFarland said. "It completely picked us up. I think it kind of freaked them out."
Consol put together its best extended stretch during the third game. Middle blocker Karla Gilbert had five of her team-high 12 kills and reserve Brooke Davidson supplied a spark with four kills.
"Whatever we started with, we got better in Game 2 and even better in Game 3," Consol coach Cydryce McMillian said. "I think the girls got more comfortable and started to have fun. It made me feel better to see that."
Libero Kelsey Kinley made several nice plays on defense and led Consol with eight digs. Parker dished out 40 assists.
Consol had a more balanced attack than North Mesquite, which got 13 kills from middle blocker Katherine Bell. The Lady Tigers got nine kills from sophomore Erika Arthur, while McFarland finished with eight and Dickson had seven.
