Tyler, Texas -- Sometimes when you have a good team it helps to have validation of just how good you are. The sixth-ranked Indian Hills Warriors got that proof when they won a thrilling five-set match with top-rated Tyler Junior College on Saturday. The huge win over the nation's highest-ranked team was part of the Warriors' 4-0 run through Tyler's tournament and came on the heels of victories against two other ranked teams -- No. 16 Blinn and No. 19 San Jacinto-Central -- the day before.
IHCC took care of both Blinn and San Jacinto in the tourney's first day on Friday and then tuned up for the Tyler match with a 3-0 sweep of Western Texas on Saturday morning.
After dropping the first set to Tyler, 25-19, Indian Hills bounced back to take the next two sets, 25-21 and 25-19. The next two sets were also close throughout, with Tyler staying alive in the match with a 28-26 win in set four, before the Warriors finished off the upset with a 15-13 decision in the deciding set.
Tamara Merseli had an outstanding weekend at the net for Indian Hills, and she led the way with 25 kills against Tyler. Kameo Pope added 13 kills and contributed four ace serves. Bailey Darnall was another Warrior with a double-digit kill total, pounding 11 to go along with a team-high eight blocks.
"We had aggressive serving that helped keep them out of their system," said IHCC coach Lyndsey Michel. "It took the first set to settle in and figure out what it was going to take to win. There wasn't one moment where we played scared.........we deserved the win. We're the real deal and I don't think we're done yet."
Merseli and Darnall combined for 22 kills and 19 digs in the win against Western Texas earlier on Saturday.
The Warriors took care of Blinn in straight sets, winning 25-22, 25-13 and 25-22; they dropped one set to San Jacinto, 28-26, but won the other three, 28-26, 25-23 and 25-16.
Michel said, "We had great balance against Blinn, spreading the ball around and finishing plays. Our defense and serve-receive were outstanding."
Indian Hills (18-2) has won 13 consecutive matches and will look to add to that streak when the Warriors host the Grand View JV on Wednesday night at 7:00 at the Net Center.