Van Alstyne ousted from volleyball playoffs
<p>BY JACK WALKER
</p>

<p>SPECIAL TO THE HERALD DEMOCRAT
</p>

<p>LUCAS -- For the second time in three seasons, the Argyle Lady Eagles advanced past the first round of the volleyball playoffs.
</p>

<p>Argyle (28-13) swept Van Alstyne, 25-11, 25-13, 25-17 to win a Class 3A Region II bi-district match at Lovejoy High School on Tuesday night.
</p>

<p>Van Alstyne (32-10) was making its first playoff appearance since 2003 and struggled against a more experienced Argyle team from the outset.
</p>

<p>Juniors Jennifer Speer and Samantha James came up big in the opener for the Lady Eagles as they jumped out to a 9-3 lead and were never challenged.
</p>

<p>Speer, one of Argyle's two six-footers, had 12 kills and James added 11 more and four aces to pace the offense.
</p>

<p>Van Alstyne senior outside hitter Emily Gentle, who had nine kills in the contest, led the Lady Panthers. She had back-to-back kills in the third set to tie it at 13 but Argyle had a final push to win the set and match.
</p>

<p>Argyle will face Kaufman, the District 12-3A champion, in the area round later this week at a site and time to be determined.</p>