Blazers Escape Lions in District Quarterfinal Thriller

MESQUITE, Texas – Dallas College North Lake survived a big five-set test from Dallas College Mountain View in the National Junior College Athletic Association Division III South District quarterfinals Wednesday at Dallas College Eastfield. The Blazers won 25-15, 25-21, 19-25, 29-31, 16-14.

North Lake (12-15) advances to play Eastfield (25-1) in the semifinals 5:30 p.m. Friday.

Hailey Pennison had 15 kills and 23 digs for the Blazers. Kynlee Rion had 13 kills, three blocks and nine digs. Kennedy Kovar had 12 kills, 26 digs and three blocks. Cameron Brouhard had 10 kills, 12 digs and a block. Ava Mendez finished with 41 digs and two aces. Katie Lloyd had 49 assists, 23 digs, four aces and two blocks. Sandy Cortes had seven kills and five blocks.

The Blazers hit .225 in the second set to take a 2-0 lead in the match. But Mountain View kept battling, taking control of the third set before pushing North Lake to extra serves in the fourth set when the Lions held the Blazers to a .000 hitting percentage. The Lions (7-25) overcame a four-point deficit in the fifth set to push the Blazers to the brink before Rion banged down a ball, and North Lake closed it out one serve later.

North Lake had 72 attack attempts in the fourth set.

The Blazers will meet Eastfield in the postseason for the third straight year.