The Benton Lady Tigers’ outstanding season came to an end Saturday.
Benton, the No. 5 seed, lost to No. 11 Ponchatoula three sets to one in the second round of the Division I playoffs at Benton.
The Lady Tigers finished an historic season 27-5. Benton won the District 1-I championship for the first time in the program’s seven-year history.
Ponchatoula improved to 25-12. The Green Wave will visit No. 3 Dominican in the quarterfinals.
The match was the final one for six seniors who helped Benton reach the playoffs three straight years and win two playoff matches.
They are libero Emma Holmes, middle hitters Madison Smith and Shekinah Njua, outside hitters Brynan Huffman and Devyn Moore and defensive specialist Lailee Magee.
Benton lost the first set 25-17 then looked like a different team in the second.
With the front line dominating, the Lady Tigers rolled to a 15-5 lead and won it 25-16 to knot the match at one set apiece.
Benton continued to play well into the third set with the back row players making some great digs to keep points alive.
The Lady Tigers jumped out to a 16-8 lead. Ponchatoula rallied and got within 17-14. Benton won three of the next four points to go up 20-15.
That’s when the set took a turn in the Green Wave’s favor. Ponchatoula won seven straight points to go up 22-20.
After a Benton time out, the Lady Tigers won two points in a row to tie it. But Ponchatoula won the next three points for a 25-22 win.
The fourth set was a nailbiter.
Benton took a 9-6 lead. After Ponchatoula tied it at 10, neither team led by more than one until Ponchatoula went up 18-16. The teams split the next two points and the Green Wave led 20-17.
Benton won two straight points to get within one.
After Ponchatoula went up 21-19, the Lady Tigers tied it at 21.
It was tied again at 23. Benton then saved one match point but Ponchatoula won the next two points to win the set 26-24.