Sachse senior Kennedy Colwell (5) and the Lady Mustangs battled in a four-set loss to state-ranked Sunnyvale on Tuesday. Photo by Tina Lopez / C&S Media

By David Wolman

[email protected]

Although Sachse was technically on a bye from District 9-6A play Tuesday night, the Lady Mustangs used the opportunity to put their recent success to the test in a non-district match against Class 4A’s No. 4 Sunnyvale.

Sachse battled but was unable to put away Sunnyvale in a 3-1 (25-12, 25-18, 27-29, 25-21) loss to the Lady Raiders at Sachse High School.

The Lady Mustangs led by five points early in the first set, but the Lady Raiders finished the first set on an extended run to take a 1-0 lead in the best-of-five match.

Sachse appeared that it was going to level the proceedings at one set apiece. The Lady Mustangs took a 13-6 lead in set two with a service ace by sophomore Sarah Naidoo. Sunnyvale didn’t give up. Keira Fawcett served 12 consecutive points and the Lady Raiders rallied to take an 18-13 lead, and it was all Sunnyvale for the remainder of the second set.

The Lady Mustangs didn’t go down without a fight.

Sachse fought off three match points and a kill by freshman Khloe Ellis extended the match to a fourth set.

Ellis posted a team-high 13 kills, complimented by 11 kills from senior Raniya Temple-Robinson. Sophomore Natalie Rainey had four blocks to lead Sachse’s defensive efforts on the front row. Naidoo dished out 18 assists, followed by 14 helpers from junior Laney George.

The tables turned in the fourth set. Sunnyvale came out the aggressor this time around, racing out to a 19-12 lead before holding off a late Sachse (13-13, 6-0) rally to notch the four-set victory.

Sachse will play at Wylie (18-11, 7-0) on Friday with first place in District 9-6A on the line.