BY BRIAN GOSSET
X – @Gosset41
Decatur owned one of the longest district winning streaks in the state – one that started five years ago. On Tuesday night, Krum came into Decatur and handed the Eagles their first district loss since Oct. 18, 2019 – 25-19, 21-25, 18-25, 25-21, 18-16.
The Eagles had won 51 straight in district. Their last district loss was against Argyle in five.
Decatur held an early lead before Emili Walker scored on a birthday ball for Krum to make it 5-4. The Bobcats continued to lead even after two monster swings by Decatur’s Lara Hornsby and Gracie Trulson. A kill by Ava Romine pushed Krum at 16-13 and the lead grew to 20-15 on a block point by Addison Vollmer.
Romine had the final kill on set point as Krum led 1-0.
Peyton Dickson and Trulson paced the Decatur offense in Set 3 and Marlie Morris hit a birthday ball for Krum off an over pass and it was tied at 9-9. The set was tied four more times, the last at 18-all before the Eagles scored seven straight to grab a 2-1 lead.
It was tight race in the fourth set before Vollmer had back-to-back kills to help Krum force a fifth and final set. Decatur then led the fifth set 7-2 as it seemed the Eagles were on their way to a 52nd straight district win, but after a timeout, Krum used a 10-3 run and went ahead 12-10.
Decatur started the win-or-go-home fifth set the best it looked all night, and ran away to a 7-2 advantage early. Krum settled in after a timeout, then stormed ahead on a massive 10-3 run that forced two Decatur timeouts.
Krum had match point at 14-12, but Decatur scored four of the next five points highlighted by a kill from Dickson and a block combo by Lowery and Trulson. The Bobcats trailed 16-15, but tied it with a kill off the block following a long rally where libero Olivia Burns made four great digs.
Then with another match point at 17-16, Krum watched as a Decatur attempt went wide and out for the victory. Krum moved to 4-2 in district while Decatur dropped to 5-1. The Eagles came in as the top ranked 4A school in the GM Sports rankings. They are now tied for first with Springtown and Eagle Mountain. Krum faces Burkburnett on Friday while Decatur plays former coach Catherine Foerster and Eagle Mountain.
DISTRICT STANDINGS
Decatur 5-1
Springtown 5-1
Eagle Mountain 5-1
Krum 4-2
Burkburnett 3-3
Lake Worth 2-4
Castleberry 0-6
Bridgeport 0-6
