By Pat Turner
Contributing Writer

A heart-breaking 3-2 loss to Reagan a week ago had no ill effects on the Smithson Valley Lady Rangers.

Instead the setback apparently has made Smithson Valley stronger. The Lady Rangers solidified their District 26-5A playoff hopes with wins over New Braunfels and Johnson.

“We’re not set for the playoffs yet, but we’re looking good,” said Smithson Valley coach Liana Gombert, whose Lady Rangers (29-11, 7-4) play MacArthur Friday and Madison on Tuesday. “We played great against Reagan and showed a lot of confidence against New Braunfels.”

The victory over New Braunfels avenged an earlier five-game loss to the Unicorns. Smithson Valley, however, made sure there wasn’t a disappointing ending this time, even though New Braunfels came close to making the match go the distance.

SmithsonValley jumped to a 25-18 victory in the first game, before New Braunfels followed with a 25-10 thumping.

After registering a 25-19 decision in game three, Smithson Valley was in control before New Braunfels tied the score at 22-22, then the Rangers eventually claimes a 25-23 victory.

A good portion of the momentum carried over to the Johnson contest. Although the Unicorns were sluggish in spurts, they managed a 3-1 victory with the work of Gibson, Lydia Werchan, Elizabeth Pawelek., Brooke Harmon, Amanda Schwanen-berg and Paige Hamilton.

It took a little time for Smithson Valley to get the advantage. In the first game, the two teams battled point for point, but with the score tied at 24-24, Johnson pulled away with a kill and a serve that grazed the top of the net and fell out of the Lady Rangers’ reach.

In game two, the momentum changed quickly.

Three kills by Gibson got the Lady Rangers heading in the right direction. She then added finishing touches for a 25-10 victory.

Game three had a little more tension. Sparked by three straight aces by Pawelek and Leigh Larralde’s kill, the Lady Rangers jumped to a 16-7 lead, before Johnson began staged a comeback.

The Jaguars pulled within 21-20, but once again Gibson revived the Lady Rangers for a 25-22 victory.

Smithson Valley then sealed the match with a 25-18 win.