Southlake Carroll Responds After Slow Start, Takes Down District Opponent in Four Sets

Southlake Carroll dropped the opening set Tuesday night but responded by winning three straight, taking the match 3-1 behind a strong offensive performance from senior outside hitter Vanessa Glenn.

The Dragons didn’t get the start they wanted, but a conversation after the first set helped change the direction of the match.

“I think after the first set, we talked a lot about what we needed to do better and how to improve our game,” Glenn told Lone Star Sports. “We started off very slow, and I think the pep talk that we had after really helped our team going into the second set.”

From there, Southlake Carroll found its rhythm.

Glenn delivered several big kills throughout the match and eventually put away the kill that sealed the fourth set and the victory.

Her success offensively wasn’t just about swinging hard. Glenn credited the communication from her teammates, particularly her libero, for helping her recognize openings in the defense.

“My libero was always talking to me about what was open, and I was just listening to her and swinging away,” Glenn said.

For Glenn, a senior, playing high school volleyball in Texas has also meant competing in one of the country’s deepest volleyball environments while building relationships with her teammates.

“I think the bond that we all have,” Glenn said when asked about her favorite part of Texas high school volleyball. “Volleyball’s really competitive here, and I think that our program’s very strong, and it motivates me to do better.”

As Southlake Carroll moves deeper into district play and toward October, Glenn said the formula for continuing its momentum is simple: stay connected and focus on the next opportunity.

“I think just staying together as a team and really fighting and having that next-point mentality,” Glenn said.

After overcoming a slow opening set and responding with three consecutive set victories, the Dragons showed the type of resilience they’ll look to carry with them through the remainder of district play.

Final: Southlake Carroll wins, 3-1.