Aledo volleyball team sweeps past Burleson

By Mark Goodson

mgoodson@star-telegram.com

Aledo played its normal aggressive game and didn't let any outside influences affect them Tuesday night in the Bearcats' three-set sweep of Burleson.

With both student sections into the playoff atmosphere, a freshman, sophomore and junior stepped up and led the Bearcats to a 25-15, 25-23, 25-21 Class 4A Region I quarterfinal victory at Haltom High School.

The Bearcats (41-6) advance to the regional tournament Friday at McMurry University in Abilene. Aledo plays the winner of the Canyon Randall-Wolfforth Frenship match at 4 p.m. Friday.

District 5-4A champion Aledo jumped out early and held off Burleson (31-9). Freshman Mykah Wilson and junior Briana Sharratt combined for 25 kills to lead the Aledo attack.

The 5-foot-10 Wilson said she didn't let the chants of "freshman" from the crowd bother her.

"That just fires me up that much more," said Wilson, who had 11 kills and had a key stretch of kills in Game 3 when Aledo pulled away with a 21-15 lead with sophomore Raygan McLelland serving.

Wilson was a big force and credits her success to others.

"I've learned from a really good one," said Wilson of coach Kathy Goings. "I'm surrounded with a lot of good teammates."

Sharratt, a 6-1 middle blocker, used her athleticism to record 14 kills and four blocks.

Late in Game 2 when Burleson rallied behind the play of sophomore Holly Milam, Sharratt answered with a crushing kill to end the game.

Aledo, which advanced to the state semifinals in 2001 for its longest run in the playoffs, has a power team that expects to make another run to Austin.

"We're better than last year," said Sharratt, a two-year starter on a young and talented squad.

Goings said the team has the talent and just needs to hit a hot streak.

"We had too many errors tonight," she said. "From here on out everybody is good and the pace is going to pick up."

Libero Shannon Taylor had 24 digs while setter Mallory Powell had 40 assists and two aces for the Bearcats. McLelland contributed nine kills and three aces.

Aledo's 6-3 outside hitter Tyler Gromann added seven kills.

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