PHOTOS BY GABE WOLF Hutto's Courtney Henderson slips a kill past Lady Badger blocker Jessica Carroll during Tuesday's straight-set loss. The varsity Lady Badgers play their final home match of the season today against Hendrickson at 5:30 p.m. The Lady Hippos have a huge advantage over their competition.

Her name is Jessica O'Shoney.

The 6-foot-1 middle blocker gave Lampasas' offense fits Tuesday evening, leading Hutto to a threeset victory (25-17, 25-11, 25-8) over the Lady Badgers inside Bozarth-Fowler Gymnasium.

"You could tell they were getting aggravated by getting blocked [by O'Shoney]," coach Tracey Myers said. "I said, 'Well, quit hitting at her.' "

It might sound simple, but hitting the ball around the two-time allstate selection is similar to squeezing water from a stone.

You can try all you want, but odds are it is not going to happen.

Blocking her vicious kills is equally challenging.

O'Shoney recorded five kills in the opening set, which helped the Lady Hippos build an early 18-6 lead before Lampasas put together a rally that had most in attendance jumping out of their seats.

Junior Kassie Carpenter prepares to bump a serve sent from Hutto's Shelby Dove. Following an error from Hutto's Sydney Maxey, the Lady Badgers won eight of the next nine points, including three aces from Sarah Bishop and a powerful Madison Morris kill.

The six-point margin at 20-14 was the closest Lampasas could get, however, as Hutto tightened up its defense and pulled out a 25-17 first-set victory.

The Lady Badgers never regained similar momentum, scoring consecutive points just five times over the final two sets.

Despite the loss, Myers liked what she saw from her squad against the defending District 18- 3A champion.

"They've matured so much," Myers said. "[Hutto] beat us pretty soundly at their house, and I didn't want them to get down, and they didn't.

"They kept the enthusiasm, they were having fun, and they fought hard."

Lampasas battled to an early 5-5 tie in the second set before Hutto rattled off four scoring spurts of at least three points each, claiming a 25-11 win in the second set.

In the third set, the Lady Badgers jumped out to a 4-2 lead, but Hutto scored 12 unanswered points before taking the match by scoring the final seven points of the set.

O'Shoney blocked three balls in the third set.

"We were hitting the ball hard, but they were just blocking it," Myers said. "That's what they have [O'Shoney] on the front row for.

"We just couldn't figure out how to get around her."

The junior varsity team also fell to Hutto, losing in two sets.

After Lampasas pulled within one point at 8-7, the Lady Hippos went on a tear, scoring 12 consecutive points and 17 of the final 20 points to win the first set 25-10.

Lampasas bounced back in the second set, but lost 25-22.

The freshmen split their matches against Hutto with the "A" team winning 25-12, 25-22 and the "B" team falling in straight sets 25-22, 25-16.

Lampasas plays its final home matches tonight against Hendrickson before ending the season with a three-match road trip. Due to homecoming events, the varsity squad takes the court at 5:30 p.m. followed by the junior varsity team at 6:30 p.m.