The Cameron Lady Yoe played Splendora on Tuesday at Viking Gym because they wanted a preview of the Class 3A Region III volleyball tournament site.

Cameron came roaring from behind in Game 1 because they didn't want to wait to qualify. It was a good thing, too, for the Lady Yoe had to fight off Splendora to win 25-23, 25-22, 22-25, 25-20.

District 24-3A teams will comprise half of the field at the Region III tournament with district champion and defending regional champ Caldwell also qualified. The Lady Yoe (32-8) will play 19-3A co-champion Mexia in its semifinal.

"We are a young team with four sophomores and four juniors," Cameron coach Linda Richter said. "They have improved so much. They are playing with so much more confidence. With the win we got last week [against Hamshire-Fannett], I fell like my babies grew up."

Cameron fell behind 9-2 and didn't get its first official assist until sophomore Maeson Mondrik had the first of her 17 kills. The Lady Yoe later trailed 13-5 when Jenae Rhoades' nice dink dropped in for a point. Splendora's Lady Cats had three hitting errors over a six-point stretch that concluded with a block by Wanetia Adams. Mondrik then banged down three kills, and Adams added another, while Rhoades served two of her five aces in the run. An ace by Brook Brashear and another Rhoades kills put Cameron at game point 24-18, but Splendora battled back behind the play of senior outside hitter Devan Bishop before Cameron could clinch it.

Cameron clung to a 23-22 lead in Game 2 after a Bishop kill, but Brashear answered with two of her own to clinch a 2-0 match lead. Brashear slammed the winner through the block attempt of Bishop and Mariah Everitt.

Trailing 17-16 in Game 3, Everitt had five kills and Lauren Bode locked it up for Splendora with a kill.

The match feature long rallies and intense points in part because of the sensational play of the liberos. Splendora's Shana McClure and Cameron's Brashear eliminated the need to sweep Viking Gym with both spending a lot of time diving across the floor. Brashear was credited with 38 digs and helped get an early ineffective offense out of it doldrums with her returns against Splendora's outstanding serving.

In Game 3, Cameron built a 21-11 lead with consecutive aces by Rhoades, who pushed across the match-winning final shot.

Cameron setter Kaylan Spink had three kills, 34 assists, two aces and five digs, while sophomore Kelsey Krenek provided stability in the middle with 10 blocks.

"The regional tournament is a big step, and I am so proud of them," Richter said. "I felt that with the athletic talent we have we could come through and be at this point. Making them believe it was the challenge."

The loss ended Splendora's season at 25-8.