PHOTOS BY GABE WOLF Jontel Ritz blocks the ball during the Lady Badgers' final game of the season. Lampasas fell to Killeen on the road in four sets. After falling down by two sets on the road to Killeen, the Lady Badgers played the third like it was going to be their last.

For four seniors, it almost was.

Lampasas dug deep and fought out of a late deficit to win the set 26-24 and extend its season temporarily before finally succumbing to the Lady Kangaroos 3-1. It was an emotional match that marked the final hurrah for Mariah Jones, Courtney Kutzke, Kayli Arizpe and Mari Rodriguez.

"I can't say enough nice things about [my seniors]," head coach Tracey Myers said. "They've always fought hard.

"They're just a great group of girls."

The Lady Badgers got off to a slow start, giving up the first seven points of the match before witnessing Killeen rattle off two more streaks of six unanswered points en route to winning the opener 25-12.

In the second set, the roles were reversed as Lampasas immediately built a five-point advantage behind a trio of aces from Sam Gauna.

Madison Morris celebrates after the Lady Badgers rallied to win the third set against Killeen. It did not take long, however, for the Lady Roos to bounce back behind the efforts of middle hitter and defensive specialist Jamie Roddell. The senior sparked Killeen, and the Lady Roos took control at 16-10, but the lead was short-lived after Lampasas rallied to go in front by one point, 19-18.

The set ended a few minutes later after the home team scored seven consecutive points, earning a twoset advantage in the match.

"They played great," Myers said. "We just spotted them too big of a lead."

With their backs against the wall, the Lady Badgers refused to die in straight sets, and the teams exchanged blows before Killeen created a bit of breathing room at 22- 19. Lampasas answered by scoring five of the next seven points.

Tied at 24-24, the Lady Badgers won the set on a pair of kills from Sarah Bishop and Jontel Ritz.

And the team went crazy. "It was awesome," Myers said. "One girl said, 'Man, this feels good. Let's keep it up.'

"They fought really hard because they wanted to win so badly."

Despite the emotional high, Lampasas came out flat in the fourth set, giving up nine of the first 12 points. Killeen's lead grew to a dozen points at 19-7 before the Lady Badgers went on a 7-1 run, but it was already too late.

Several plays later, Killeen clinched the set (25-15) and the match on a Roddell kill.

"They came out and were just trying too hard instead of relaxing and just playing like they did in the third set," Myers said.