Monitor Photo/Russell Slaton
Annel Duran of Malakoff digs against Rusk in her team’s five-set setback at home Aug. 27.

Monitor Photo/Russell Slaton
Malakoff’s Cameryn Cheek goes on the offensive at the net with a kill against Rusk at home Aug. 27.

Monitor Photo/Russell Slaton
Sha’Tarria Dowell of Malakoff prepares to serve during the Lady Tigers’ Aug. 27 match hosting Rusk.

MALAKOFF–The Malakoff Lady Tigers volleyball team took a 2-1 advantage against the Rusk Lady Eagles before losing the last two sets in an Aug. 27 marathon match.
Cameryn Cheek of Malakoff’s kill gave her team an early first-set lead of 3-1, then a block point by Bree Tinney increased the Lady Tiger lead to 5-1. Tinney added another block point at the net to make it 16-8, Malakoff. After that, Rusk crept back within 17-13.
Later, a powerful Rusk kill cut the Malakoff margin to 20-18, prompting a Lady Tiger timeout. Kylee Summerhill added a Lady Tiger kill to increase the first-set margin to 23-17; Malakoff eventually took the first set, 25-19.
In the second set, Malakoff took a 4-3 lead after an early deficit. Taniya Fuller of Malakoff notched a kill to make it 9-6, Lady Tigers. However, Rusk tied the second set at 13. Malakoff roared back ahead, topped off by a Cheek kill to increase the Lady Tiger lead to 18-13, forcing a Rusk timeout. Rusk came back to win the second set, 25-23.
Malakoff fell behind in the third set, 16-9, before mounting a comeback. An ace by Cheek allowed the set to stand at 20-19, Lady Tigers. Kills by Maycee Summerhill and Tinney increased that advantage to 22-19. Eventually, Alabama Anding hammered home a kill to give Malakoff the 25-20 third-set victory.
After Rusk won the fourth set, 25-11, the fifth and final set went back and forth until Rusk prevailed, 16-14, winning the match.