James Albritton/The Community News: Aledo senior hitter Allie Bettinger rips down a kill in a recent match. The Ladycats swept Springtown Tuesday night at Springtown with a 25-14, 25-8, 25-10 victory to remain in sole possession of first place in District 6-4A.

By Tony Eierdam

Coming off a win last Friday against Boswell to gain possession of second-place in District 6-4A, the Springtown Lady Porcupines were primed to host the first-place Aledo Ladycats in a match that could have tied up the district race.

Could have.

Paced by a combined 34 kills from the Ladycats senior front row trio of Allie Bettinger, Blaire Fowler and Abby Tomas, who played an entire match for the first time since August when she suffered ankle injuries, Aledo left no doubt which team belongs in first place after a 25-14, 25-8, 25-10 dismantling of the Lady Porcupines Tuesday night in a key District 6-4A match at Springtown.

The victory raises the state-ranked No. 10 Ladycats' overall record to 26-6, 6-0 in league play.

"I am proud of our girls," Ladycats head coach Kathy Goings said. "They came out intense and stayed that way through the entire match. That's what we have to do from here on out in district, because when we get to the playoffs we have got to be able to do that."

Goings was also pleased to see her entire roster healthy for the first time since the second week of the season. Senior hitter Brittany Winkelblech was the only Ladycat not suited up although doctors have cleared her to play after suffering a bout with mono.

"Having Abby back meant that Springtown could not key on Allie," Goings said. "When we have Abby in there we have a hard hitter on the right side. I can't even remember when we had our entire team together. I have written up so many different lineups this season. It is just so nice to have everybody back."

Fowler led the Ladycats with 11 kills while adding four blocks and eight digs. Bettinger recorded 10 kills to go along with 11 digs, and Tomas finished with eight kills. Helping set up the Aledo hitters was junior Tara Gough, who recorded a match-high 21 assists. Also defensively, senior hitter Addie Mantooth had a match-high 13 digs, with senior defensive specialist Caitlin Cole adding 11 digs.

For the complete story and with more thoughts from Goings and the players, please see the Oct. 3 issue of The Community News.

The Ladycats sub-varsity teams also defeated Springtown. The junior varsity raised its overall record to 16-4 while keeping a spotless 6-0 district mark with a 23-25, 25-17, 25-19 victory, while the freshman "A" team (16-2, 6-0) dropped the opener, 30-28, before rallying to win the match with wins of 25-15 and 25-20.