Lady Bulldogs Jamie Kaleh and Carly Springer
diggin' in against the Cy Springs Lady Panthers.
The Lady Bulldogs swept the Cy Springs Lady Panthers for the second time this season, but this time the appreciative fans in the Dawg House got to see all their favorite players contributing in the three games 25-12, 25-15, and 25-9. Coach J had a chance to rest some players from the first game throughout the match and to see others in the heat of the battle and this was the perfect opportunity to do so.
The Lady Bulldogs opened Game #1 with a 9-0 run with (4 of 8 for the night) Mary Chadwick serving aces, an Alicia Shaffer 'dink', a Jamie Kaleh kill and a spirited volley thrown in. Cy Springs had already burned their first timeout at 7-0 trying to solve their 'serve receive' problems and didn't know it, but were about to get jammed with a 'Williams' Glide' kill shot to the right at 11-1, followed with a Lauren Michael kill at 12-1, and a Hannah Fort kill at 14-3. A Carly Springer ace serve at 15-3 had to be disheartening, but the Lady Panthers clawed back to 16-8 before Lauren Michael slammed another one home. Again the Lady Bulldogs asserted themselves to a 10 point edge when Hannah Fort had a kill at 20-10, teamed up with Heather Bowden for a block point at 21-10, and then threw two serve aces to close out Game #1 at 25-12. Hannah played well again and led the hitters with 9 kills for the evening.
Lady Bulldog Sam Lange (15) rejecting an attack from the Lady
Panthers as team mate Hannah Fort assists her in building a 'wall'.
Game #2 was Alicia Shaffer's turn to put on a show. Alicia started out with a kill tying the game at 1-1; Lauren Michael had a kill at 4-3; Hannah Fort had a kill at 6-4; Lauren again at 7-6; and Heather Bowden put a great kill shot in the right hand corner of Cy's court at 8-7, but the Lady Bulldogs were not pulling away. Alicia began the onslaught with a kill at 10-8 and at 13-9 then had an 'ace' serve at 14-9. Hannah Fort took over from there with a 'dink' at 17-11; a 'happy birthday' kill at 18-11 and another kill at 20-13. After Cy used their second time out at 21-13, the Bulldogs traded a couple of points and Kelli Stewart doused their flame with a block point at 25-15. The ladies played pretty solid with no major lapses in momentum while the Lady Panthers were giving it all they got.
Lady Bulldog senior setter Mary Chadwick (17) backsetting
Hannah Fort who's swinging around for one of her 9 kills.
Game #3 the Dogs were let out and finished off the Lady Panthers with quick bursts of power and finesse. OH/MB Jamie Kaleh had a kill at 1-1 to start it out, Lauren Michael had a 'happy birthday' kill at 2-1, Jamie followed up with another kill at 4-1 and once Kelli Stewart blocked another Panther attack at 7-1, it was time for Cy to burn a time out. The attempt to break Magnolia's momentum didn't seem to work for Cy Springs as Kelli Stewart had a kill at 10-2, Lauren Michael and Hannah teamed up for a block at 11-2, Jamie a kill at 12-2, Hannah Fort had kills at 14-4 and 15-4 and there was no hope. The pounding continued with Alicia Shaffer's deadly jump serving with no hopes of the Cy Springs back row returning them and some great serves from Kristin Bergen to make it a merciful finish at 25-9. The BIG DOGS were barking!!!
Lady Bulldogs Caitlin Holland (21), Heather Bowden (13), (rear l-r) Alicia Shaffer
and Carly Springer setting up a transition pass and defending their turf.
This was a good district victory for Magnolia who needs to continue to win every game they can. It was also a good tune-up for Friday night's match against District 17-5A leader Cy Fair Lady Bobcats at 6:00 PM. The Lady Bulldogs would appreciate any and ALL of the support you can give them as they take on Cy Fair for the second time around.
GO GET 'EM LADY BULLDOGS !!!
