Abilene Wylie volleyball takes care of business, Wichita Falls High

The Wylie volleyball team wasted little time taking control of Tuesday night's match against Wichita Falls High.

The Lady Bulldogs won the opening set 25-6 en route to a 3-0 victory at Bulldog Gym. They won the second set 25-12 before finishing the match off 25-15. The victory kept Wylie in control of the second-place spot in District 4-5A with two matches left.

Facing a Lady Coyotes team that hasn't won a district game and with key matches against Wichita Falls Rider and Cooper coming up, Tuesday tested Wylie's focus.

"I was glad that we did that, that we didn't over look this team," Wylie coach Shay Cox said. "We came in with our game plan and stuck to it no matter who was on the court. I was able to get everyone some good playing time and we came out with the win."

Wylie won 10-straight points, including six Keetyn Davis aces, in the first set to go up 17-2 before easing to the win. WFHS put up a better fight in the second and third sets, but the Lady Bulldogs proved to be too much.

No matter who the opponent, Wylie comes to play.

"They're a very competitive group, like everybody is, but sometimes I think I'm the one that worries more," Cox said. "They just show up and play ball and that's what we have to do, that's what we need to do to get ready for that next opponent."

Davis led the way for the Lady Bulldogs, adding eight kills and a team-high 12 digs to her six aces. Maggie Allen matched Davis' eight kills to tie for the team lead and had a team-high 1½ blocks while Karis Christian finished with seven kills and Lilly Kate Doby added six. 

Wylie can clinch the second seed with a win against Rider on Friday and a Cooper loss to Aledo. The Ladycats clinched the top seed in the district with a 3-0 win against Rider while Cooper was off.

More:Wylie volleyball's district title hopes take a hit in loss at Aledo

More:Wylie sweeps Cooper to set up district showdown

But Cooper's win against Rider, kept the Lady Cougars in the race for second and made things interesting down the stretch.

"It was a tough game, a five-game match here against Rider, and I expect the same thing going into their place," Cox said. "I like that we are confident in ourselves, but I don't feel like we're overconfident. (Cooper beating Rider) definitely did make things interesting.

"I knew Cooper had the capability. It kind of fired me up when it happened to make sure that I do what I'm supposed to do to prepare these kids to go to Rider with (Rider) in a must-win situation."

Even with No. 15 Lubbock Monterey likely awaiting the second-place team, it is better than facing No. 3 Canyon Randall or No. 9 Amarillo High in the opening round.

But the best chance to advance in the playoffs, the Lady Bulldogs have already clinched a postseason berth, is to stay in the second-place spot. That's the goal entering the final two games of the season.

"We talk about our goals and we're still trying to create different things, trying not to be predictable," Cox said. "We're constantly working on ourselves, plus knowing what's coming at us from across the net. We know every time that we go in a gym, we're going to get their best game. We want to hold onto the place we're in and not let go."

DISTRICT 4-5A

Wylie def. Wichita Falls High 25-6, 25-12, 25-15

WICHITA FALLS HIGH — n/a.

WYLIE — Kills: Keetyn Davis 8, Maggie Allen 8, Karis Christian 7, Lilly Kate Doby 6, Avery Wimberly 4, Jaron McAden 2, Lexi Miller 2, Madison Burden 1; Assists: Miller 29, Sanders 4, Rylie Hays 1; Digs: Davis 12, Miller 10, Sanders 8, Cortney House 4, Christian 4, Hays 4, Doby 3, Lilly New 2, Dusti Grant 2, McAden 1, Burden 1; Blocks: Allen 1½, Doby ½; Aces: Davis 6, Doby 4, House 3, Sanders 1, Hays 1, Grant 1.

RECORDS — Wichita Falls High 2-19, 0-7; Wylie 25-12, 4-2.

More:Wylie volleyball's district title hopes take a hit in loss at Aledo

More:Wylie volleyball downs Wichita Falls Rider in five sets

Jordan Hofeditz covers Abilene high schools and colleges, Big Country schools and Texas Tech athletics. Follow him on Twitter at @jhofeditz.