Lady Bulldogs bulldoze district, cruise to state tourney

The Sundance Lady Bulldogs played host for the 2A Northeast District Championship this past week as the Wright Panthers, Moorcroft Wolves, and Big Horn Rams came to town. Opening up the tournament against the Wright Panthers, the Lady Bulldogs wasted no time getting down to business.

Sherri Negaard led the team in kills with 19 on the night as the Bulldogs took a 3-0 sweep over the Panthers, 25-10, 25-15, 25-10.

The second round of the tournament put the Sundance Lady Bulldogs up against the Big Horn Lady Rams once again. Picking up right where they left off, the Lady Bulldogs jumped out to an early lead.

The Lady Rams struggled to hold things together as the Bulldogs walked away with a 25-15 victory in set number one. Set number two found the Rams pulling themselves together and staying close to the Bulldogs in the opening points.

With the score 12-8, the Rams called a timeout in hopes of slowing the Bulldogs hard hitters, but it was to no avail. The Bulldogs began to run away with the set, as the Rams had no answers for the unrelenting hits from Sherri Negaard and Ty Holloman.

“The adrenaline rush we had going as a team kept us moving forward,” senior Bulldog Sherri Negaard stated. While the Rams kept pushing, it was not enough and the Bulldogs took set two 25-11.

The Lady Bulldogs had the crowd and the momentum on their side for set number three. Opening up with a 5-1 lead, the Lady Bulldogs did not look back.

“It was fun!” said Ty Holloman, “I enjoyed working together with my teammates to get some good offense going.”

Between the hard hits, the quick movement on the floor and excellent serving, the Lady Bulldogs walked away with the 25-18 victory, another 3-0 sweep over Big Horn and a 2A Northeast District championship.

There was no rest for the weary as the Lady Bulldogs were back in action on Saturday in Pine Bluffs for the regional cross-quadrant tournament. Two wins in this tournament would bring the Lady Bulldogs into the state tournament as the number one seed. 

Opening up play against Glenrock, the Lady Bulldogs took a moment to get their bearings. In a tight opening set, the Lady Bulldogs fell 22-25. It didn’t take long for Lady Bulldogs to get back on track, however, as they handily won the next set 25-5 over the Herders. Pushing this match into four sets, it was the Lady Bulldogs who were able to walk away with the 25-16 victory in sets three and four. 

In the championship game of the tournament Sundance was up against a very familiar foe, the Big Horn Rams. Having played the Rams just two days prior, the Lady Bulldogs knew what they had to do in order to win. Behind the hard hitting of Holloman and Negaard once again, the Lady Bulldogs were able to walk away with a 3-0 sweep, 25-20, 25-14, 25-11.

The Lady Bulldog will advance to state as the number one seed from the east. The state tournament will look a little different this year as each class will participate for one day only.

The one-day tournament will consist of three sessions at 10 a.m., 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. The Lady Bulldogs will begin play on Thursday, November 5 at 10 a.m. in Casper. They will play against the number four seed from the west, Wind River.

SHS vs. Wright – 25-10, 25-15, 25-10

Aftyn Marchant – 2 aces 14 digs

Sherry Negaard – 19 kills, 5 digs, 2 blocks

Nevada Gill – 1 ace, 9 digs

Baillee Heaster – 14 assists, 1 kill, 2 aces, 5 digs

Cana McInerney – 1 ace, 4 kills, 23 assists, 6 digs

Ty Holloman – 2 aces, 8 kills, 3 blocks, 5 digs

Bailey Hofland – 6 kills, 3 blocks

Brook Hofland – 3 kills, 1 block

Briska Johnson – 8 digs

SHS vs. Big Horn – 25-15, 25-11, 25-18

Aftyn Marchant – 2 aces, 14 digs, 1 kill

Sherry Negaard – 19 kills, 8 digs, 2 aces

Nevada Gill – 3 digs

Baillee Heaster – 14 assists, 2 aces, 5 digs

Cana McInerney – 5 kills, 21 assists, 4 digs

Ty Holloman – 8 kills, 2 aces, 3 digs

Bailey Hofland – 5 kills

Brook Hofland – 3 kills, 3 digs

Briska Johnson – 5 digs

SHS vs. Glenrock – 22-25, 25-5, 25-16, 25-16

Aftyn Marchant – 2 aces, 15 digs

Sherry Negaard – 3 aces, 20 kills, 1 block, 7 digs

Nevada Gill – 8 digs

Baillee Heaster – 4 aces, 1 kill, 25 assists, 1 block, 4 digs

Cana McInerney – 7 digs, 5 kills, 27 assists, 2 blocks

Ty Holloman – 2 aces, 17 kills, 2 blocks

Bailey Hofland – 6 kills, 5 blocks

Brook Hofland – 9 kills, 3 blocks, 3 digs

Briska Johnson – 6 digs

SHS vs. Big Horn 25-20, 25-14, 25-11

Aftyn Marchant – 3 aces, 8 digs

Sherry Negaard – 14 kills, 2 blocks, 3 aces, 2 digs

Nevada Gill – 2 digs

Baillee Heaster – 5 digs, 1 kill, 20 assists

Cana McInerney – 8 digs, 3 kills, 15 assists, 1 block

Ty Holloman – 9 kills, 2 blocks, 1 dig

Bailey Hofland – 3 kills, 3 blocks

Brook Hofland – 7 kills, 2 blocks, 1 kill

Briska Johnson – 2 digs