The Pampa Lady Harvesters (23-14, 4-5) hosted Perryton in their final home game of the season on Saturday and set the stage for a potential chance at the three seed with the sweep over Perryton (25-9, 25-13, 25-7).
In their second year under Head Coach Kaylee Samulowitz, the Lady Harvesters clinched a playoff berth in as many years.
“I kind of had an idea of what we would do this season and this was it (make the playoffs),” Samulowitz said. “I really hope we can go get third (with a win over Canyon tonight and in tie-breaker), but you always take a chance to make the playoffs. I still think we can go win a couple of playoff games.
“It’s exciting and fun for the girls. It’ll be a fun couple of weeks for sure.
The Lady Harvesters got off to a hot start in the first set with a 7-0 start as junior Valeri Anguiano tallied a pair of aces. Junior Mikalie Floyd added a pair of kills later and an ace to extend their lead to 13-4. Junior Priscila Moreno and freshmen Mazi Smith had a strong block and Pampa led 14-5. Smith and Floyd continued to attack the Rangerettes and Pampa won the first set 25-7.
“She (Valeri Anguiano) has been a big surprise this year,” Samulowitz said. “Last year she got some varsity reps and was very quiet and this year she has come into her own and this year has been one of our most consistent communicators, which is huge for a back row player. She has a great serve. She brings a lot of consistency and the girls have a lot of confidence when she is on the floor. She’s been really, really big for us.”
The Lady Harvesters jumped out to a 7-3 lead in the second set with kills from Smith, Floyd and Moreno. Floyd, Anguiano and senior Haley Fossett added kills alter in the set to extend the lead to 14-7. Freshmen Maecie Hawthorne added three aces and Pampa won 25-13.
Anguiano repeated her performance from the first set, and Pampa dominated the start of the third set 7-0. Floyd added an ace and it was 13-4.
“She (Mikalie Floyd) is nearing 1,000 career kills so I’m hoping she’ll get that in one of our playoff games,” Samulowitz said. “She is just a good player. You couldn’t ask for anything else. She’s good in the back row, good in the front row and is learning to become a better leader.
“She is super-coachable and does anything I ask of her. That’s always the case with the really great players. I love that kid and am super-proud of her. I can’t wait to watch her compete at the next level (she has committed to play at Lubbock Christian University), but we get her for another year. That’s the best part.”
Smith added three kills and Pampa extended their lead to 18-6. Pampa went on to finish the set on a 7-1 run and Pampa finished the sweep 25-7.
The Lady Harvesters return to action Tuesday evening when they travel to Canyon for the season finale. If Pampa wins, there will be a tie-breaker game. If they lose, they are locked into the four seed.
“This whole week we’ve been preparing for Canyon (tonight). That’s been our goal and focus,” Samulowitz said. “We have some adjustments we made based on the first game (against Canyon). Hoping we can go in there, upset them and force a tie-breaker game. Those are the best games these girls will remember.”
Stat Round-Up
Mikalie Floyd had 16 kills, four aces and three digs; Mazi Smith had eight kills, an ace and two digs; Hallie Hawthorne had three kills, two aces and five digs; Valeri Anguiano had two aces and seven digs; Maecie Hawthonre had one kill, 27 assists, five aces and two digs; Haley Fossett had a kill, an assist, two aces and nine digs; Ariel Lacher had a kill and a dig; Zoe Downs had a kill; Amanda Rios had three digs; Priscila Moreno had a kill and a dig and Reagan Dyer had two digs.
