Cove, Belton eliminated from volleyball playoffs Posted On: Sunday, Nov. 8 2009 05:31 AM Copperas Cove and Belton both dropped their area-round volleyball matches Friday.

The Lady Dawgs lost in three games (25-22, 25-11, 25-13) to Richardson Lake Highlands at Robinson. Cove, which finished second in District 12-5A, reached the area round for the second straight season and third in four years under coach Cari Lowery (the Lady Dawgs reached the 4A region quarterfinals in 2006). The Lady Dawgs finished the season at 32-9.

Belton lost in three games to Sachse (25-1, 25-11, 25-13) at West. The two met in the same round last year with Sachse eliminating the Lady Tigers in four games.

Belton ended the season at 16-24, but the Lady Tigers rebounded from an 0-11 start to finish third in District 12-5A.

Gatesville advanced to the 3A Region I quarterfinals with a 3-1 win Friday over Vernon, and will face Burnet on Tuesday at either Cove or Lampasas. Burnet beat Decatur in four games Saturday in the area round.