The Hitchcock-Tulare Patriots went 3-1 at the Sanford Pentagon tournament, winning both pool-play matches and advancing to the semifinals before falling to Canton. The Patriots moved their season record to 8-7.
Hitchcock-Tulare opened with a 25-16, 25-17 win over Ethan. The Patriots came out hitting aggressively while limiting errors. Keilee Schone led the attack with eight kills, followed by Emmerie Arthurs with six and Tess Bixler with four. Brynn Binger handed out 21 assists. Binger and Arthurs served three aces apiece as the team totaled nine, while Olivia Knox recorded 12 digs. Schone added two block assists.
The Patriots faced a tougher test against Hanson. Three missed serves in the final five points of the first set contributed to a 25-23 loss, but Hitchcock-Tulare rallied to take the second set 26-24. The Patriots controlled the deciding set, winning 25-17 to finish pool play 2-0.
Schone had eight kills against Hanson, Bixler added seven, and Laina Puffer had six. Binger recorded 22 assists. Knox led the defense with 18 digs, followed by Kaylie LaBrie with 13, Binger with 11 and Arthurs with 10. At the net, Schone had four block assists, Arthurs and Bixler had three each, and Puffer had two.
Bracket play brought a rematch with Oldham-Ramona-Rutland, which the Patriots had faced two weeks earlier. Hitchcock-Tulare built an early lead, but the Raiders stayed close before the Patriots secured a 25-22, 25-19 victory. Bixler led with six kills, Schone had five, and Puffer and Arthurs added four each. Binger finished with 21 assists. The Patriots served seven aces, including two each from LaBrie, Binger and Paige McNeely. Knox had 13 digs.
The win sent Hitchcock-Tulare to the semifinals against Canton. The Patriots had trouble slowing Canton's hitters at the net and fell 25-20, 25-19. Arthurs led the Patriots with five kills and joined Binger with three aces. Binger added 10 assists, Knox had eight digs, and McNeely and Schone each recorded a block assist.
The Patriots will travel to Sunshine Bible Academy for a 281 Conference matchup. The C-team match is scheduled to begin at 5:15 p.m., followed by junior varsity and varsity.