Split results for Lady Bulldogs

As the regular season begins to wind down, the Sundance volleyball team is wrapping up their conference games. Going up against two conference rivals this past weekend, the Lady Bulldogs split their games, losing to the Tongue River Eagles, 3-0 and defeating the Wright Panthers 3-1.

The Lady Bulldogs struggled in Tongue River on Friday. In a rare occasion, the Bulldogs fell to the Eagles in three straight sets 15-25, 21-25 and 22-25.

Despite their loss on Friday, the Lady Bulldogs were not going to let a beautiful Saturday afternoon end in defeat. The gym was filled with pink in support of finding a cure for cancer as the Lady Bulldogs took on the Wright Panthers.

Jumping out to a quick 3-0 lead, the Panthers were able to maintain their slight advantage as the Bulldogs struggled getting under the hits from the Panthers front row. The Bulldogs began to battle back late in the game but it wasn't enough to overtake the Panthers, who took game one 25-18.

Game two looked as though it was going to be over quick. The Panthers took a commanding 9-1 lead before Sundance coach Chelsey Blasczyk called a timeout looking to bring her girls together and stop the Panthers' momentum.

Slowing the Panthers for a short snap, the Bulldogs looked to be coming together. Both sides then began trading points back and forth, neither stringing more than one to two together at a time.

With the score 15-19, Sundance needed another timeout. Hoping to gain some momentum on offense, the Bulldogs slowly began their run.

Behind the serving of senior Cana McInerney, Sundance found their hard hits and began laying them down the line, while the Panthers began to come up short or in the net. With the score tied at 19, the Panthers were getting frazzled as the Bulldogs continued to dominate the net.

A timeout by the Panthers allowed them to regroup and tie the score at 22, but it was the Bulldogs who were able to maintain their composure and take the 25-23 victory. 

With the set tied 1-1 both teams were now in it for the long haul. The Panthers were hoping to capitalize on the miscommunication between the Bulldogs and gain another conference victory while the Bulldogs were looking to carry their momentum and hard hits into the next few games.

It was a back and forth between the two teams, with the score tied at 6 and then again at 12 before either side was able to break away from the other. It was the Bulldogs who were able to gain the slight advantage, taking a 22-18 lead. The Panthers came close, with the score 20-23, but the Bulldogs secured the 25-21 victory in the end. 

Pushing the set into four games, the teams were again evenly matched to start. Neither side would gain the advantage as play began.

Multiple ties and lead changes throughout made it look like the set would be going to five. With a final tie at 20, the Bulldogs once again were able to pull together and come up with some big stops on defense.

The Sundance front row began to find the right spot on the other side of the net with their hits and the Bulldogs took another 25-23 victory for the night as well as the conference win. 

"We are still growing and working on playing together. There was definite progress between Friday and Saturday. The girls came back from their loss with a vengeance and proved they have the ability to win. Heading into next weekend we have some work to do continuing to create the unity and focus we'll need to contend against Big Horn," Coach Blasczyk commented on the weekend play, 

The Sundance Lady Bulldogs are now sitting in second in the 2A Northeast conference, behind the Big Horn Rams. Both teams have a 5-2 conference record and will face off this weekend in Big Horn as they bring the regular season to a close. The winner of this conference matchup will be the number one seed going into regionals.

Stats

SHS vs. Tongue River: 15-25, 21-25, 22-25

Briska Johnson – 3 digs, 1 assist

Ella Bifulco – 3 digs

McKaya Gillespie – 1 dig, 1 kill

Zoe Skeens – 5 digs, 5 kills

Cana McInerney – 2 aces, 7 digs, 4 kills, 18 assists, 3 blocks

Ty Holloman – 4 digs, 12 kills, 6 blocks

Brook Hofland – 1 ace, 1 kill, 3 blocks

Bailey Hofland – 1 kill

Lexie Marchant – 1 assist, 2 blocks

SHS vs. Wright: 18-25, 25-23, 25-21, 25-23

Zoe Skeens – 1 ace, 20 digs, 10 kills, 1 block

Briska Johnson – 33 digs, 1 kill

Cana McInerney – 2 aces, 21 digs, 5 kills, 34 assists, 1 block

Ty Holloman – 21 digs, 11 kills, 5 blocks

Brook Hofland – 5 digs, 7 kills, 1 block

McKaya Gillespie – 7 kills, 2 blocks, 8 digs

Ella Bifulco – 5 aces, 8 digs

Lexie Marchant – 6 kills, 4 assists, 3 blocks

Rachelle Miller – 1 ace, 2 digs