No player on the Fossil Ridge volleyball team was born during the last time the Panthers won a playoff game.
That was 1999.
Against the odds, the Panthers pulled off the win and upset over 3-6A champ Boswell 16-25, 26-24, 18-25, 25-21, 15-8 in a 6A Region 1 bi-district match on Monday at Keller Central HS.
Ridge (20-22), #4 out of 4-6A, will play Midland Legacy or El Paso Eastlake in the area round – most likely on Friday.
The Panthers made the playoffs by one game after missing out last season on the final day of the regular season. It’s their first playoff trip since 2017.
After winning the fourth set and forcing a fifth and decisive game, Ridge took the first point. The Panthers led 3-1 and 6-3. The lead grew to 10-7 forcing a Boswell timeout. Ridge scored six straight points to go up 14-7 with match point.
Setter Tatum Flemming assisted a set to senior outside Lainee Pyles for the kill and win.
Pyles, an LSU commit, posted 37 kills and a 0.429 hitting percentage in her playoff debut. She added 12 digs. She set a new single season kills record – breaking her mark of 675 last season as a junior.
Flemming put in 49 assists and Aaliyah Toppin chipped in 17 kills.
Ridge’s last playoff win came in 1999.
The Panthers beat Dallas White in the 4A bi-district round and Arlington Heights in area before losing to Coppell in the regional quarterfinals.
The win Monday was only the fourth playoff win in program history.
Their first win came in 1998 against Dallas White in the 4A bi-district round.
