One of the annual quirks of the high school athletic schedule resumed last week with the start of the 2010-11 volleyball season more than a week before classes actually start.

The season kicked off with a stellar local match-up, pitting the Tomball Lady Cougars, winners of three consecutive district championships, against longtime cross-town rival Magnolia, a team that made it through the first two rounds of the playoffs last year and has its eye on a trip to the state tournament this year.

The two powerhouses battled back-and-forth over five close games, with the Lady Cougars finally winning the decisive Game 5, 15-10.

The Cougars got on the board early with a Game 1 25-22 victory over Magnolia, but the Lady Bulldogs rallied to take Game 2 (25-21) and Game 3 (25-22). Tomball evened the match with a Game 4 win, 26-24 before taking the final game.

Tomball’s Sarah Temperilli led the Lady Cougars in kills with 15, while Magnolia’s Courtney Felinski led the Lady Bulldogs with 20.

Just two days later, the Lady Bulldogs evened their season record at 1-1 with a 3-1 victory over Keller. In that contest, the Lady Bulldogs took the first game, 25-18, before dropping Game 2, 25-23. Magnolia went on to win the remaining two games, 29-27 and 25-11 to seal the win.

Felinski again led Magnolia in kills, this time with 15.

The local team that is off to perhaps the most impressive start is the Magnolia West Lady Mustangs. At 4-1 and with an impressive Day One showing at the Katy ISD Tournament, the Lady Mustangs are looking to build on a season that saw them miss out on the postseason last year.

After notching an easy three-sets-to-none win over new varsity squad Humble Summer Creek, the Lady Mustangs then traveled to Katy Aug. 12 and played an exhausting four games, three of which they won.

Magnolia West earned 2-0 sweeps over Katy Taylor, Alief Elsik and Bellville, while getting knocked off by Bellaire, 0-2, in what has proven to be the team’s only loss this season.

Next up for the Lady Mustangs is a trip to take on Oak Ridge Aug. 17 at 5:30 p.m. Magnolia will travel to take on Cy-Creek the same day at 6 p.m., while the Tomball Lady Cougars will play at Humble Atascocita at 6 p.m.

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