By BY BRUCE HIXON – SPORTS EDITOR
A couple of weeks ago the T.R. Miller Lady Tigers volleyball team was a squad headed nowhere. That was at a time when the Lady Tigers had lost nine of 12 games and stood 5-9 on the season.
Since then the Lady Tigers have hit their best stretch of the season. They first rallied for a five-set victory over W.S. Neal and followed that up with a straight-set win over Flomaton.
T.R. Miller season hit its current high point Thursday when the Lady Tigers stunned the visiting Andalusia Lady Bulldogs 25-20, 16-25, 20-25, 25-21, 15-13.
T.R. Miller's victory not only avenged a straight-set loss to Andalusia earlier in September, but the Lady Tigers knocked off an Andalusia squad that has drawn the top seed for this month's Class 4A Area 2 Tournament, which will be played at T.R. Miller.
Despite Thursday's win, Peacock said the seeding order will not change. Andalusia will remain the top seed and receive the first-round bye. T.R. Miller will be second and face third-seeded W.S. Neal.
The serving of Morgan Hubbard, who had five points, and the hitting of Shandreka Foster helped T.R. Miller (8-9) gain some momentum in the first set win.
The Lady Tigers appeared they would have little difficulty forcing a decisive fifth set early in set four when they built a 12-4 lead.
Andalusia stormed back and pulled even at 20-20 on a missed T.R. Miller serve and moved in front 21-20 with its service.
The Lady Tigers were able to pull even again with a defensive point and Morgan Hubbard served out the final four points to close things out.
Four points by Michal Hubbard at the start of set five gave T.R. Miller a lead it never relinquished.
There were some tense moments down the stretch, especially after the Lady Bulldogs pulled within 8-7.
Defensive blocks by Rachel Bostic and Brittany Watson helped turn the momentum back in T.R. Miller's favor. Another defensive hit, this one by Foster, enabled the Lady Tigers to close it out.
T.R. Miller's junior varsity dropped a 25-8, 25-16 decision to Andalusia.
The Lady Tigers return to the court Monday when they head to Flomaton. Play starts with the junior varsity match at 5 p.m.