SNYDER – Having reached the Region I-3A quarterfinals for the third time in four seasons, the Cooper volleyball was hoping to finally take the next step.

Unfortunately for the Lady Pirates, they were tripped up by Abilene Wylie.

The 10th-ranked Lady Bulldogs cruised to a 25-20, 25-16, 25-22 win Tuesday, denying Cooper of its first appearance in the regional tournament.

“Wylie is an incredible team,” said Cooper head coach Courtney Pesterfield, whose team had been eliminated by perennial power Monahans in each of the previous three seasons. “I think we had in our mind if we went in and played well, we could win. We just didn’t accomplish the playing-well part.”

Pesterfield said Wylie’s service game took the Lady Pirates (24-14) out of their offensive rhythm. And for Cooper, a service game that had been dominant managed only four aces while committing 13 errors.

Brittany Ruble led the Lady Pirates with eight kills, two aces and a block, while Ruby Johnson had six kills. Kaitlyn Vinson chipped in four kills, and Hannah Limmer and Brittney Bednarz paced the back-row defense with eight and five digs, respectively.

Although disappointed with the loss, Pesterfield said her Lady Pirates will be better for the experience. They return all but one starter (Johnson) next year and will lose only two seniors.

“They’re already fired up for next year and setting some goals,” Pesterfield said.

• Shallowater

ODESSA – Shallowater’s bid for its first appearance in the regional tournament came to an end as Alpine won 25-18, 25-16, 26-24 in a Region I-2A quarterfinal at Odessa Permian.

The Fillies (21-18), who also were eliminated by Alpine last season, were playing in the third round for the first time since 2006.

“I feel like tonight we went in scared to lose the game instead of playing to win,” Shallowater head coach Amy Mangum said. “We just were very timid early on and didn’t move well. It was a good season, though. Our seniors led us and did a lot of great things for the team this year.”

Those seniors, Brittney Scaff and Taylor Wilson, once again led the way on Tuesday. Scaff finished with a team-high 12 kills and three blocks, while Wilson dished out 24 assists.

Kayla Koerner added five kills for the Fillies, and Erica Quebe paced the defense with 13 digs.

“I think that getting to this point, seeing what it takes to get there, is going to help us in the future,” Mangum said.