Strong season start for Lady Bulldogs

The Sundance volleyball team started their season strong as they participated in the North Big Horn County Tournament in Cowley this past weekend. Taking wins over Meeteetse, Dubois, Greybull and Tongue River, the Bulldogs set the tone for their 2024 season.

The Bulldogs opened the tournament facing a couple of 1A teams, Meeteetse and Dubois, where they handled their opponents with confidence. The final matchup for day one was Rocky Mountain, where the teams faced off in two closely contested games and ended up splitting the set. 

The Bulldogs continued to face tough competition on day two of the tournament, with both of their matches going to three sets. Opening up against Rocky Mountain, the Sundance team dropped game one, 23-25, to the Grizzly Bears, before regaining their footing and taking decisive 25-20 and 15-7 victories, putting the Sundance team in the championship match against an ever-familiar foe, the Tongue River Eagles.

The Eagles took the first set 22-25, but the Bulldogs were able to respond with a 25-22 victory in the second, sending the teams into a third, where the Sundance Bulldogs dominated, taking the championship win with a 15-7 final score. 

It was an all-around team effort for the Bulldog volleyball team where Jaylin Mills and Annika Haugen led the offensive charge. Mills ended the tournament with 60 kills and 14 aces, and Haugen added in 65 assists for the weekend. On the defensive end, teammate Blakely Gill picked up 47 digs throughout the course of the tournament. 

The Bulldogs are set to continue their strong start as they participate in the Gillette tournament this weekend. 

Stats

SHS vs. Meeteetse: 25-6, 25-9

SHS vs. Dubois: 25-11, 25-21 

SHS vs. Rocky Mountain: 25-18, 20-25

SHS vs. Greybull: 23-25, 25-20, 15-7

SHS vs. Tongue River: 22-25, 25-22, 15-7

Kills: Mills 60, Karol 23, Haugen 10, Cooney 10, Skeens 6, Marchant 1

Aces: Mills 14, Gill 12, Haugen 5, Marchant 5, Karol 2, Skeens 1

Blocks: Karol 8, Mills 6, Cooney 4, Haugen 1, Skeens 1

Digs: Gill 47, Marchant 23, Haugen 17, Mills 16, Philips 8, Skeens 7, Karol 1

Assists: Haugen 65, Mills 20