Magnolia Lady Bulldog Volleyball: DAWGS Bring Home District Championship !!!

Coach J keeping the ladies focused during the heat of the battle against The Woodlands.

The Magnolia Lady Bulldogs defeated The Woodlands in the show down for the District 15-5A championhip at a packed and appreciative DAWG House on Tuesday night in a thrilling sweep by the final scores of 25-23, 25-14, and 25-23. The Bulldogs were hitting on all cylinders in game 2 but games 1 and 3 were played like championship matches were meant to be. Lady Bulldog OH Kristyn Bergen was a key contributor tonight as she delivered time and again at crunch time with the game on the line - both offensively and defensively (9 kills and 17 digs). OH Alicia Shaffer matched Bergen's outstanding effort with some timely digs and kills (9 kills and 16 digs), amped up jump serves, and superb crisp passing all night long. It was the best combined effort by the duo yet this season. Teams planning to sit on our outstanding middle attackers may have to re-think their game plan as the playoffs near!

Junior MB Michele Williams who just verbally committed to LSU this past weekend, had another outstanding effort on the front line with 16 kills and 6 blocks. Junior MB Hannah Fort (9 kills and 6 blocks) and super-soph OHR Kelli Stewart were equally as effective with their defense on the front line. It was Stewart's best effort this season on front row and it couldn't have come at a better time with the district championship outcome in the balance seemingly throughout the evening.

Senior setter Catlin Holland had another consistent and steady match on Senior Night with 23 assists to help put an exclamation point on what has been an outstanding and rewarding season for both her and the team. Sophomore setter Hannah Davies helped keep the offense going as well with 18 assists to her credit. Jamie Kaleh (OH) and Anna Barren (DS) were the only other contibutors to the Magnolia line-up on a night where everything was on the line.

Lady Bulldogs OHR Kelli Stewart and MB Hannah Fort shown

here blocking the ball back into Woodland's side of the net.

Game 1 started out shaky as The Woodlands jumped out to an early 5-1 lead and stretched it to 11-5 with several service aces and multiple dinks to take control of the contest. Alicia Shaffer's first attack point of the night and subsequent first serve rotation ace got the DAWGS barking and back on track. Kristyn Bergen's back-to-back kills put the score close at 11-10. The Woodlands then stretched the lead to 15-10 when the Lady Bulldogs were penalized for movement/out of rotation. A quick Kill by Hannah Fort and another by Michele Williams followed by a double block by Hannah and Kelli Stewart and another Michele Williams "Boom Boom" blast got the team within 3 at 17-14 and seemingly on the way back. However, The Woodlands Lady Highlanders surged ahead again and had a seemingly safe 21-15 lead when they were whistled for a net violation to change the score from 22-15 to 21-16. The Lady Bulldogs then played near flawless volleyball down the stretch as Kristyn Bergen had 3 kills and Hannah Fort 2 kills mixed in with several The Woodlands' errors. An out hit by The Woodlands helped the Lady DAWGS to the victory at 25-23 as they outscored their worthy challengers 10-2 down the stretch. WOW, what an ending!

OH Jamie Kaleh and MB Hannah Fort forcing The

Woodlands to hit the ball over their outstretched arms.

In Game 2 the DAWGS found themselves trailing early again and finally even at 8-8 before they showed everyone in the packed gymnasium why they went 10-0 in district matches this season and why they should be seriously considered as a contender for the state championship this high school season. A lethal 5-kill barrage by Michele Williams, powerful back row attack kill by Alicia Shaffer, mixed in with a few more Kristyn Bergen attack points and WHAM!........Dawgs 19 ... Woodlands 9. A couple more Alicia Shaffer kills and a Kristyn Bergen kill later and the final tally had the Lady Highlanders' lost and scratching their heads and taking the low road 25-14! The DAWGS delivered another knockdown punch in this set, but the Lady Highlanders were down, but not out were not going down without a fight.....

Lady Bulldogs MB Michele Williams and OH Alicia Shaffer

team up to thwart a Woodland attack attempt.

Game 3 was a near repeat performance of game 1 – but even more exciting. The DAWGS trailed early at 8-1 behind an array of blocks and Magnolia errors on offense and fought back making use of our outstanding middle attackers as Hannah Fort and Michele Williams had 2 kills each to bring the team within 10-8. The Woodlands again responded with a championship effort and stretched the lead to 15-8 before the DAWGS made yet another patented comeback. This time it was the Lady Bulldogs doing the blocking with a mind boggling 4 block points sandwiched around a couple of "Boom Boom" kills and a Kelli Stewart attack point. A quick glance on the scoreboard: ... MHS 16 ...The Woodlands 16. It was to be a "nip-and-tuck" battle the rest of the way. Michele Williams and Alicia Shaffer teamed up for a combined for 5 attack points to keep the DAWGS close by, and in the hunt at 22-23. Another Shaffer kill and a Hannah Fort Glide put the DAWGS on top "sniffing" at the crown at 24-23. A sweet 2 ball set from Shaffer to Kristyn Bergen was all that was needed for the kill and the championship was theirs! A fitting end to the match on a night when the Ladies were tested severely, but somehow pulled through like champions. No one said it was going to be easy. How sweeeeet it is! Not much time to celebrate.

Now the Ladies get the chance to prove just how much they have grown and matured this season by seeking revenge from an earlier loss in the tournament season to the Memorial Mustangs in a playoff warm-up. 5:30 PM at the Dawg House on Friday night.