If you read the first half of this exciting novelette, you know that when the saga called for intermission, our "Heroes of the Hardwood" had just been summarily dispatched by mighty Wimberley, and they were preparing for a night in Comfort, September 5. (I don't really know what the word "summarily" means, but it sounds good, and I never did know what "presumptive" meant, either, and aren't you glad you don't have to hear that again for four years?)

Pushing aside all suspense, the Llano High School volleyball girls bruised the Bobcats, 25-16, 25-23, and 25-15. The sleek, express bus was ready to return to Llano Stadium and turn participants into spectators of another lopsided victory for the Jackets.

"I'd like to think my speech after the loss to the Texans made a difference," head coach Shawn Sweeten said, "and they were as disappointed in that match as I was." See separate story for details on the coach's tough talk which make all athletes think, "Oh, this is just not fair," and 20 years pass, and they're musing about the lessons learned, and, therefore, they think, "Oh, this is just not fair!"

"It was definitely important to show we could play better than we did against Wimberley," Katie Yeager pointed out. The junior, one of the best assists' talents in Region I, had 31 for the night. "We found we had it in us to come back after a defeat and show that the loss did not get us down."

There wasn't just a comeback in general in the making. The one in particular was sensational as the Lady Jackets rallied from a 13-point deficit in the middle game to win by two. Yeager disclosed: "It was awesome; we dug deep and fought hard." Sweeten's reaction: "It showed guts and perseverance."

In the rally, which I'm sure did not elicit any sweet talk from the Bobcats' coach, a couple of Llano timeouts helped deliver the right message plus good defense and Libby Moore. The Ladies won nine straight points, as this junior, making her own comeback from an injury last year, served the ball nine times. Now, that's Moore like it!

"We really do play well, and we play hard," Yeager emphasized, "but winning is tough at times." (I wonder why her dad doesn't come up with quotes this good and revealing?)

A Number of Things: Allie Rostron had 13 kills and 10 digs. Tejana Lanford, the team's only senior, had a dozen kills. Moore came up with 11 digs, and the sparkling sophomore, Kirstie Roark, added six digs. Yeager's 31 assists get a second mention.The Jackets are 11-10. They hosted Burnet after press time September 9.

"This team understands what's at stake," Sweeten stated, "and it wants the same result as last year--the playoffs."