The Magnolia DAWGS rule!!
Huh?? Some one explain this one! Okay, the Magnolia Lady Bulldogs took 3 straight sets (25-14, 25-16, 25-14) and a little over an hour to send the Waller Lady Bulldogs packing and on their way back home in this District 18-4A match, played in the revered DAWG HOUSE and under their own Friday night lights. Again, the MHS' DAWGS put together another solid team effort to keep pushing their undefeated 2008 District 18-4A record forward and intact behind senior Kelli Stewart's 12 kills, 2 block assists and 8 digs; sophomore Courtney Felinski's 12 kills, 1 block assist; a very busy senior Meagan Little's 6 kills, 4 serving aces, 1 solo block and 1 block assist; 4 kills from Katzy Randall, and 3 kills and 4 serving aces from Sarah Bacho and 34 assists with 7 digs from the versatile, Paige Holland.
Setter Paige Holland showing perfect form while
hypnotizing her opponents for one of her 34 assists.
The DAWGS did not start any of the 3 sets out too impressively (losing the first 2 points of all three sets), but they did slowly ramp up at about the same point in each set and then continue their play consistently enough to make the match seem like carbon copies of the same sets.
Coach J explaining the winning formula to
Courtney Felinski (L) and Paige Holland (1).
In the first set (as in the 2nd and 3rd sets) it was Meagan Little who burned the Waller Dawgs with her solid blasts to get Magnolia turned around and on the right track. Kelli Stewart quickly jumped in on the frackus with a kill at 2-2 and it seemed as though Waller suddenly awakened and promptly committed 4 straight errors without knowing the worst was yet to come. Sophomore MB Courtney Felinski executed her "MeatMan Shuffle" with a rocket cross court kill at 6-4, then another kill at 8-6 to set the DAWGS on course for an 8 point run from there at 16-6. The DAWGS were not seriously challenged as they sprinted ahead to 23-8, before they mercifully backed off on their hind paws so Waller could make the loss a little more acceptable scoring 6 points to Magnolia's 2, putting their score in the books at MHS: 25 and WHS:14.
Kelli Stewart hammered this kill down the line.
In the second set after Megan's "wake up call" the DAWGS pounced on Waller again, but this time behind Courtney Felinski's kill at 3-4 then another 'Glide to the right' kill at 4-7 before Kelli Stewart let one fly at 5-7, and 2 quick errors later and an ace serve from senior Sarah Bacho - the other Dawgs found themselves trailing at 8-7 with one less time out and the view was not going to be changing! With Magnolia leading through the middle of this set the gap between the teams did not spread as wide as in the previous game as the DAWGS stayed out in front by a modest 3 to 5 point range. Once the score reached 21-15 however, Waller burned their last time out, hoping to turn the momentum around the other way - but instead couldn't get much going on their part and Magnolia responded with a 4 to 1 point blast and ended this one at 25-16. Two down and one to go.
Meagan Little ignited her team mates in all 3
sets with kills to start the DAWGS scoring.
Once again, when Meagan Little hammered a kill, the bell rang and the trailing DAWGS kicked it into 3rd gear with Kelli Stewart and Courtney Felinski leading the way through the opening with kills at 2-2, 4-4, respectively, then Kelli again at 5-4 and a few errors later the DAWGS had their biggest spread of the game at 4 points with the score at 9-5. The DAWGS kept the same margin close throughout the rest of game behind solid hitting from Kelli and Courtney, and with Sarah Bacho who assisted Meagan Little with a block at 14-9 and a kill down the line at 16-12. Once Kelli hammered Wallerites with a shot at 17-13, the life left Waller and they had to try to hold themselves up as Magnolia rolled 'em under their wheels with 6 earned points for the match sweep: Meagan Little's ace serve 20-13; Kelli and Courtney block assist at 21-13; Kelli kill off the defenders arms at 22-13; Courtney doing the same thing at 23-13 and a clean kill at 24-14; and a final tip from Kelli at 25-14.
Kelli Stewart (L) and Courtney Felinski (R)
teaming up for this block at the end of the final set.
The DAWGS have earned themselves a little rest and should enjoy the little stretch between Friday night and next Monday 9/29 when Huntsville visits Magnolia and maybe get everyone healthy enough to make a run for the district!
GO LADY BULLDOGS!!!
