If Hopewell was in the same conference with Watauga, the two could quite possibly be competitive rivals by playing each other twice a year.
However, in the third round of the state 4-A playoffs, teams only get one shot at each other. Hopewell took advantage of some Watauga mistakes Thursday and managed to take a 3-0 victory at Lentz-Eggers Gym.
The Titans won the first game 25-20, and followed with 25-19 and 25-21 victories. They advanced into the fourth round, which will be played Saturday.
Watauga's season ended at 22-4. Hopewell, the No. 2 seed from the I-MECK Conference, improved to 21-5.
"We fought for every point," Pioneers coach Kim Pryor said. "Our girls played a tremendous match and unfortunately it didn't go our way."
Watauga struggled with the speed of the game in the first set and by the time they adjusted they were down 8-4. Watauga never really into its rhythm offensively until the second set. The teams were tied 18-18 before Hopewell outscored the Pioneers 7-1 to close out a victory.
Watauga jumped out to a 9-2 lead in the third game, but Hopewell gradually caught up and tied the set 18-18. Again, the Titans pulled away down the stretch to clinch the game.
"The first game, we came out a little slow and they were on it right away," Pryor said. "They're tempo was very quick the entire time except in the third game when we came out strong. I thought the teams were even, but they finished it out and we didn't."
Watauga got nine kills from Nicole Tesh and Hannah Stewart and five from both Maddi Bakken and Colby Combs, who also had 10 digs and three serving aces. Skylar Hicks had 15 of the Pioneers' 52 digs, and Bailey Hagaman added 24 assists and five kills.
But the Pioneers had their hands full with Hopewell's Chanel Nelson, Rachel Eppley and Hannah Early. Nelson, whose left-handed spiking proved to be effective, served six if the final seven points in the second game and finished with nine kills and one that was nullified because she touched the net.
Eppley and Early not only hurt the Pioneers offensively, but combined with Nelson to be difficult for the Pioneers to hit around, particularly in the middle. Watauga also made its share of unforced errors that Hopewell took advantage of.
"The first game and into the second game, we made mistakes that were uncharacteristic and in a match like that, you've got to be on your game at all times."