FB Austin did a great job of double teaming while they blocked. They seemed to
consistently have an area of about a 3 to 4 foot width to stop any Lady Bulldog attack!!!
Fort Bend (FB) Austin reminded the Lady Bulldogs on how to "do it"......win, that is, against a suposedly stronger, taller team! You do it with a zero tolerance for errors, gutsy defense, incredible digs, passing, and cohesive teamwork with a capital 'T'. FB Austin impressed all, by playing flawlessly and winning in three - going away (23-25, 25-18, 25-18) while the Lady Bulldogs appeared to become a little flat-footed and worn down later in the match. You know it's the case when you have to struggle with an intense volley for 45 seconds just to win a point, but then in just 15 seconds you give up 2 points! (Who hasn't been there?)....
Set #1 - opened for Magnolia with a patented 'Boom-Boom Glide' and a follow-up Michele Williams and Ashlynn Newman assist block point at 2-3; and still kept the game close with a Kelli Stewart block and kill at 6-7. Hannah Fort chipped in with a kill at 8-10 and finally got the Lady Bulldogs howling and in the lead for good, with an ace serve at 11-10. From there, Michele did 'her thing' on the next rotation, with a hard hit off FB Austin's arms at 13-10, a "Williams - Stewart" (sounds a little like a law firm, doesn't it?) assist block at 14-11, and then another at 15-12.
Lady Bulldog setter Caitlin Holland had a full day spreading the sets around against FB Austin.
From there, Hannah Fort took over on her next rotation, with a hit at 18-13; a great save at 19-16; a great kill at 20-18; and then another kill at 21-19. FB was never out of it though, and came back close at 23-24, before Alicia Shaffer "deviously" faked their middles into thinking she was going to pound a shot by them, only to 'dink' the ball over their confused and helpless arms - and onto the floor for the 'set' win.
You've got to just love (9) Hannah Fort's celebratory, ritualistic dance when the Lady
Bulldogs score! (I think it's getting contagious)....Caitlin Holland's got it going on!
Set #2, FB Austin turned it around and led almost the whole game - from 5-7 forward. Again, Magnolia blasted away in the beginning with all of their guns (Michele at 4-5, Ashlynn block at 7-5, Alicia kill at 9-11, Hannah hit at 11-14, Kristen Bergen line shot at 15-16), but then slowly went to sleep as FB Austin's (height-challenged) athletes took over. Their outstanding play and toughness willed them to victory from a lead of 1 at 17-16, to outscoring the error prone Lady Bulldogs at crunch time, 8 to 2 - leaving the final at 25-18. Ouch!
Set 3.....again, a slight lead for Magnolia at 3-0 and from there it was tied until 13-13 when FB pulled away as the Lady Bulldogs struggled to "3 ball" the ball over the net. Our ladies couldn't seem to regain their 'MoJo' and (maybe) pressed too hard. They chased balls out-of-bounds and were unable to execute the 'little' things needed, nor they couldn't seem to take advantage of several opportunities...and so, in the end - it was just not to be!
FB Austin forced our ladies to take an early retirement and an early exit from the Spring Branch Tournament with a score at 25-18. Some other results from the tournament:
The team we defeated last night in 5 games (Stratford) was too strong for Katy in the finals, sweeping them in two: (25-14, 25-20). You can just imagine that Stratford had to be dawg-tired playing against a tough and undefeated Dulles team, and was probably the match de-jour today, with Stratford winning that match in 3 (26-24, 20-25, 25-19).
Dulles must've been unfazed though, and proceeded to hammer Bryan (25-20, 25-8) and cruised into third place. The other semifinal match had Katy taking care of what was left of Bryan by sweeping them: 25-21, 25-10.
Set 3.....again, a slight lead for Magnolia at 3-0 and from there it was tied until 13-13 when FB pulled away as the Lady Bulldogs struggled to "3 ball" the ball over the net. Our ladies couldn't seem to regain their 'MoJo' and (maybe) pressed too hard. They chased balls out-of-bounds and were unable to execute the 'little' things needed, nor they couldn't seem to take advantage of several opportunities...and so, in the end - it was just not to be!
FB Austin forced our ladies to take an early retirement and an early exit from the Spring Branch Tournament with a score at 25-18. Some other results from the tournament:
The team we defeated last night in 5 games (Stratford) was too strong for Katy in the finals, sweeping them in two: (25-14, 25-20). You can just imagine that Stratford had to be dawg-tired playing against a tough and undefeated Dulles team, and was probably the match de-jour today, with Stratford winning that match in 3 (26-24, 20-25, 25-19).
Dulles must've been unfazed though, and proceeded to hammer Bryan (25-20, 25-8) and cruised into third place. The other semifinal match had Katy taking care of what was left of Bryan by sweeping them: 25-21, 25-10.
