The Nacogdoches Lady Dragons volleyball team will play their first playoff match since 2003 against Hallsville at 7 tonight in Kilgore.

"I think overall there is some excitement," Nacogdoches volleyball coach Ben Belshaw said. "This is an experience the school hasn't had in six years. Volleyball is being talked about again."

The Lady Dragons (13-25), the fourth-place team from District 14-4A, will have a tough task in their Class 4A, Region II bi-district match against Hallsville (37-7), the first-place team from District 13-4A.

"They are a good team," Belshaw said of the Ladycats. "We went and watched them play Carthage Friday and were able to see what they do. We know we are going to have to play one of our better games, but I think we match up pretty well.

"I told my girls, 'They eat breakfast, get dressed and go to school, just like us. They are not superhumans. If we play our game and be consistent, we will at least have a chance to win.'"

Hallsville enters on a 13-match winning streak, with the last loss coming to Tyler Lee in five sets on Sept. 1. The Ladycats have won their opening-round playoff match via the sweep the past two years.

The Lady Dragons will try to keep that from happening tonight.

"We have to minimize our errors and keep our serve in," Belshaw said. "We definitely need to keep the match close, because it can mentally change the game. We hope to put pressure on them early and catch them by surprise."

Some leaders for Hallsville are Kaci Jackson (318 kills, 212 digs and 91 blocks), Darby Graf (236 kills), Stephanie Bayne (49 aces), Morgan Peck (288 digs), Brianna Young (102 blocks), Elizabeth Daily (878 assists) and Jennifer Duffee (55 aces).

For the Lady Dragons, Chelsea Leeder has 284 kills and 314 digs, Chandler Johnson has 341 digs, and Ally Harris has 346 assists.