By Travis M. Smith | KBEC Sports
History was made Tuesday evening in front of a near-capacity crowd inside the Midlothian High arena.
Midlothian and Midlothian Heritage met on the volleyball court for the first time, and did so as District 8-5A foes. It marked the first-ever UIL-sanctioned game of any kind between the two schools.
And it was the 5A fourth-ranked Lady Panthers and their rowdy student section that celebrated loudest. Big Sister swept Litte, 25-11, 25-13, 25-18.
Seniors Kenna Buchanan (14 kills), Karli Rector (9) and Lauren Safritt (9) led the Lady Panther attack on the front line. Rector nearly recorded a triple-double in the win, adding a match-best 18 assists and 8 digs. Chloe Hallmark also provided 15 assists and five digs. Jenna McMichael (25) and Safritt (13) led the Lady Panthers in the back row and dig department.
Brooklyn Wilhoite (soph) and senior Emilee Casey led the Jaguars with 8 and 5 kills, respectively. Kameron Chilcutt accounted for 10 assists.
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Midlothian began the week as the fourth-ranked team in Class 5A, as recognized by the Texas Girls’ Coaches Association. The Lady Panthers are now 22-2 on the season, having won their first 18 matches before losses to Richland (2-1) and Arlington Martin (3-2) during tournament play. Both are 6A programs.
Midlothian will face (2-12) Mansfield Summit tonight and then host Mansfield Timberview on Friday. Both matches are slated for a 5:30 p.m. start.
Heritage, meanwhile, had a rough go of it during tournament play over the weekend. Facing mostly 6A programs, the Jaguars went 1-5. They’ll take a 13-16 overall record into tonight’s district match against (9-13) Burleson. The match will be the first in the Jaguars’ new area. First serve is at 5:30 p.m.