Lady Bulldogs Freshmen A Team Close Great Season

The front line of the Freshmen A team ready to put the ball in play (l to r)

Bethany Brown, (m) Megan Little, and Kristen Haberern against Tomball.

Hello, all you Magnolia High School Lady Bulldogs Volleyball fans! Now that the season is winding down we would like to take the time to acknowledge ALL of the teams' and players' accomplishments and relay how proud we all are of the Freshmen Lady Bulldog Family. The fans are so excited that we are to have these fine young athletes representing Magnolia High School and the community in the future. The Magnolia area has always been known as a great "farming system" for bringing out the best in all of the ladies' athletic programs. The Lady Bulldogs' softball teams, basketball teams, track and VOLLEYBALL teams' successes have been legendary and it's no secret that the hard working coaches do an exceptional job recognizing their talents and cultivating their skills.

OH Chelsea Rauscher hammerin' home a point against a Tomball Lady Cougar.

The Freshmen A team ended the 2005 17-5A district schedule with and impressive 12 Wins with 4 Losses and an overall record of 25 Wins with just 8 Losses. Way to go ladies! The 2005 Freshman A team also took the Championship in the Magnolia tournament. Folks, that was First Place out of 16 teams! The Freshmen A's also finished 2nd (out of 16 teams) in the Katy tournament and 3rd (out of 16 teams) in the Bryan tournament. Quite a remarkable season considering the mid season loss of Middle Blocker/Hitter Breanne Matula who moved up to the Junior Varsity squad and immediately contributed to help the JV win 6 of their last 9 matches!

Celebration time! Ashlynn Newmann (12), Bethany Brown (19),

Meagan Little (23) and Jenna Wheeler (25) cheering each other on.

Congratulations on a fine year, ladies...we'd like to thank the 2005 Freshmen A Team:

Bethany Brown Outside Hitter
Kristen Haberern Middle Hitter / Blocker
Meagan Little Outside Hitter
Ashlynn Newmann Middle Hitter / Blocker
Chelsea Rauscher Outside Hitter
Holly Stephens Libero
Jenna Wheeler Setter
Angela Yzaguirre Setter

The end of year stats will be available and announced at the MHS Volleyball banquet so we'll all just have to celebrate together!!

GO LADY BULLDOGS !!! BULLDOG PRIDE !!!

(Re)Calling All DAWGS... Playoff Schedules:

Recall....Calling All DAWGS.......calling ALL DAWGS....

Thank you all for coming to the match and a BIG thanks for all the support you gave the Lady Bulldogs last night!! The ladies responded to your cheering by playing inspired volleyball and swept the Tomball Lady Cougars out of the Dawg House!! And it was a good time, wasn't it?

Well, we've got to do it again! We are going to need the "Power of the DAWG".......The Lady Bulldogs will be playing a 'warm-up' inter-district match against the Klein Oak Lady Lady Panthers (14-0 district and 27-7 overall) at the Dawg House at 5:30 PM and will need your continued support as they prepare for their Bi-district playoff match next Tuesday. Bridget LaPlante (5.8 kills/game) and Samantha Wilson would undoubtedly love to get some revenge for the victory the Lady Bulldogs earned as they knocked the Lady Panthers out of the Spring Branch Tournament quarterfinals. Of course, we'd like to 'pain' them a little more.....


We're really going to need your help for this one, though.........

Here are the details:
Tues, Nov. 1,
Magnolia bi-district vs. Memorial at 7:30 pm at Coleman Coliseum*...

7:30 pm is the correct time...EVERYONE BE THERE !!!

* directions from Magnolia High School to Coleman Coliseum: 1488 to 149 to 249 to Sam Houston Tollway, Turn right on Sam Houston Tollway W, Take I-10 W, Exit Dairy Ashford and turn left, Coliseum is at 1050 Dairy Ashford on left side. Can't miss it!!

Coleman Coliseum is 'almost' the Memorial Lady Mustangs' home site and there is no doubt that there will be plenty of Mustangs' fans trying to roust our Lady Bulldogs. We need the largest mobilization of Bulldog fans we can put together to converge at this site and to help our ladies....PLEASE MAKE PLANS TO BE THERE !!!

On Tuesday night Memorial took care of their 18-5A 3rd place opponent (Northbrook) by sweeping them in front of their hometown crowd: 25-13, 25-3, and 25-11 behind senior MB Lauren Johnson's 11 kills. Don't be fooled - this team is loaded with talent and the Lady Bulldogs will have to continue to play well in every phase of the game to tame these Mustangs. Memorial has only lost to top quality teams and beat Langham Creek up pretty good earlier in the season. Here's their team leaders:

Name Kills/game
Jr OH Lauren Buchman 2.3
Soph OH Sidney Stewart 2.3
Sr ROH Sydney Ackerley 1.7

Blocks:
Senior ROH Sydney Ackerley blk asst: 124 solo: 15 total: 139 blks/game: 1.8

Digs:
Soph OH Sidney Stewart 247
Junior OH Lauren Buchman 222
Junior DS/L Barbara Thompson 220

Jr Setter Jordan Currie has 435 assists avg is 5.4 / game

18-5A STANDINGS
TEAM DISTRICT OVERALL
Stratford 14-0 30-5
Memorial 12-2 25-11
Northbrook 8-6 21-13

Lady Bulldogs Fight Their Way Into Playoffs !!

Appreciative Magnolia fans cheering on the Lady Bulldogs in the Dawg House.

What a great evening it turned out to be in the "Land of the Bulldog"....it didn't necessarily have to start out that way, but the ladies and coaches worked hard tonight (and all season) to make it happen (again), while giving all the fans and families a real thrill. There was also a chance during this match, for the fans to honor the 4 graduating seniors who will be leaving the team in 'capable hands' after this season and it would be a lot better going out on a good note. The end result which is what we all really wanted, actually exceeded our expectations. The Lady Bulldogs played very well and took the match in a 3 game sweep from their district rival (25-17, 25-23, and 25-17) and have taken a step closer for glory...

(l to r) Seniors Carli Springer, Heather Bowden, Lauren Michael and Mary Chadwick

wearing their new playoff T shirts after their district win against Tomball.

Game #3 found the Lady Bulldogs down 3-4, but from that point forward the Bulldogs never trailed again - thanks to some hard kills and consistent play from Michele Williams, Hannah Fort, Lauren Michael and assists by Mary Chadwick and Caitlin Holland.

Alicia Shaffer led the troops defensively, with 17 digs to go along with her 8 kills, while Lauren Michael had 11 kills with 14 digs and 2 service aces. Michele 'Boom Boom' Williams paced the hitters with 16 kills and Hannah Fort had 9. Mary Chadwick continued to lead in assists with 24 and Caitlin Holland contributed 15 - all in a good team effort and a team victory that will go down in Magnolia High School history as THE game that put the Lady Bulldog volleyball program on par with the elite teams in 5A district play. Simply put, they're as good as any of the district leaders and better than the majority of others. With only 4 seniors graduating, the future looks good for the Lady Bulldogs - but everyone knows, it won't happen without hard work, BULLDOG SPIRIT and BULLDOG PRIDE!!! .....Congratulations to ALL!!!

The 2005 Magnolia Lady Bulldogs showing their big smiles after a great break-through season.

Here's audio at the end of Game #3:

Magnolia JV Finishes Off Tomball Lady Cougars"
Comment -mat4 said... 7:34
"AWESOME and Unbelievable!! That is the only way I can describe the perfomance of the "Lady Bulldogs" against Tomball. What a way to end the season. I want to congratulate all the players on all of the teams. I can't wait for next years season to start up. Thanks to all the coaches as well, they put in a lot of hard work and it showed. Good Luck Varsity!!! "

Reply from MagnoliaBigDog....8:32 "Thanks for your comments and support throughout the season mat4. The players and coaching staff really worked hard to 'get where they got' and sadly we'll have to wait until August of '06 for the next season to begin and to help the new teams reach their next year's goals. But for last night, it was an exciting night of well played volleyball on both sides and it does feel good to enjoy their accomplishments - for the moment!

There's still more work to do for the varsity... but now that the season is winding down, we'll try to get information on the 9th Grade A and B teams as well and put it on the blog. They had a great season as well, and as future Lady Bulldog varsity players, they'll be carrying the 'Bulldog Family Tradition' forward. God's speed to all...."

Lady Bulldogs Pound the Lady Cougars in Game #2

Senior DS Carly Springer passing the ball forward against Tomball.

Game #2...tough audio track. The large, boisterous crowd was loud and drowning us out, but it was the Lady Bulldogs' fault.....they were down 21-23 at the tail end of a tight game and the energy from the Dawg House kicked in as the Lady Bulldogs immediately came back with a Michele 'Boom Boom' Williams thundering kill and then following up with a blocked point to tie the game at 23-23. The audio cut us off....maybe it was meant to be...maybe you just had to be there - because Lauren Michael hammered a great kill shot right down the left court side line for the winning point (25-23) and up in the match (2-0). The Dawg House erupted into a big boom of rousing mixed cheers, screams, applause and barking - and for a moment, it was almost like "being in a surreal Lady Bulldog volleyball heaven" - or something close.

'Boom Boom' Williams follows through with one of her 16 kills against 2 Lady Cougars.

The difference in Game #2 was all Michele Williams...she totally controlled both sides of the net and carried the team by hammering 5 kills when the Bulldogs needed them most. The Lady Bulldogs trailed the Lady Cougars closely until Tomball could no longer contain them at 18-18. Michele had 4 of her kills at this point and team mate Lauren Michael was keeping Magnolia close with her 4 kills, but her 'shot' was still yet to come. Alicia Shaffer had a blocked point and a kill that must've had the Lady Cougars wondering where it was going to come from next. Here's the audio file at 21-23 and the rest of it is on the file above this post:

Lady Bulldogs 'Dog Pile' Cougars in Game #1

Picking up where we left off: Game #1.....Hannah Fort swung to the right on a 'Hannah Glide' to complete a great kill at 23-16 and Lauren Michael put a kill down at 24-16 and finally Hannah and her Bulldog team mates, put the Lady Cougars to rest with a block at 25-17.

Hannah Fort gliding past Tomball's Irene Rump.

Game #1 is in the books and the Lady Bulldogs want to make this a short 'night's work'......

Lady Bulldogs Look Good Taking Care of Business

The Lady Bulldogs knew this one was "for real".

Let there be no denying the Lady Bulldogs their 'just due'...The ladies came out of their pen and immediately got down to business. The ladies needed to start strong and take control in this match and not give Tomball any chance of thinking they could possibly win this game or possibly upsetting the favored Bulldogs by getting to them. The Bulldogs also needed to win and stay in front of Cy Creek in their district, if they wanted to go on any further into the playoffs.

Senior Lady Bulldog OH Heather Bowden putting a kill down the line.

In Game #1 Lauren Michael opened with a kill at 3-1, Heather Bowden at 4-1, Lauren again at 5-2 and a flurry from Alicia Shaffer, Hannah Fort, and a kill from Michele "Boom Boom" Williams put the Lady Bulldogs in charge at 10-5. A Kelli Stewart cross court kill and several 'dinks' later (one by Michele and two by Hannah); then topped off with a Michele kill - put Magnolia in a "sswweeeeeeett" spot at 21-15, which is where this audio picks up. Once again the blog cuts us off (at 23-16), but it was too much fun to 'Delete', so here it is with a follow-up on the next audio blog above:

Magnolia JV Finishes Off Tomball Lady Cougars

A couple of high flyin' Lady Bullpups. Kati Michael (l) and Breanne Matula (r)

Holy Frijole!! Whoever stole our JV players - DON'T BRING THEM BACK!! The impressed fans who were now enamored by this 'new team' in the Dawg House on Tuesday night might not want the 'old team' to come back anyway...the team they saw tonight played nearly flawlessly with exceptional setting, passing, serving and hitting against an opponent that gave them fits in the middle of the season! This 'new and improved' Lady Bulldogs JV team skinned the Tomball Lady Cougars in 2 games 25-17 and 25-14 and did it in impressive fashion.

OH Jamie Paulson shootin' at the Lady Cougars.

The Bullpups led Game #1 from start to finish and had a 15 point advantage at one point. Katie Kreft and Brittany Wheaton got things going with a pair of serving aces and when Breanne Matula lit the Cougars up with a pair of kills at 7-3 and 9-4 - the Lady Bulldogs had the Lady Cougars on the run and looking for a safe place to hide. Katie Kreft added a dink at 10-4; Jamie Paulson had a pair of serving aces to put Magnolia up at 12-4; Katie Kreft topped off a great volley crafted with skilled passing and setting - with a kill at 13-5 and the rout was on. The Bullpups really earned their points tonight! Mandy Gray had a couple more serving aces; Chelsea Jackson had a block and block assist with Kati Michael to put the score at 20-7; Jamie Paulson had a dink; Kati Michael a kill; and when Breanne Matula slammed 'another one home' at 23-8 - the Bullpups were barking BIG TIME!! The game was out of reach at this point, so the Dawgs let up a bit and coasted until Tomball made a serving mistake to end it at 25-17.

The Lady Bulldogs either touched or stopped almost every

ball coming across the middle this evening against Tomball.

Game #2: another great game start to finish. Again strong 'net play' and 'ball control' put the Lady Bulldogs in control early at 6-3 and Tomball was becoming a little more flustered with each point. When Kati Michael had a service ace down the court line at 8-4, the Lady Cougars made a comment to the line ref, and was overheard by the "Up ref" who drew a yellow flag to quell their frustrations. Hadn't seen that it quite a while! Another Breanne Matula kill and 3 nice kills by Katie Kreft at 15-8, 16-8 and down the right side at 18-10 - really put the Bullpups on the top and no time to look back. Consistent play and some well placed balls and good blocking thrown in, made it seem effortless as the Bullpups finished the game at 25-14, the match 2-0, the district (8-7), and the season - very similar to the way they started the season (with different players though).....Strong!!

Get used to it, Tomball. "There's a new sheriff in town". Her

name is Breanne Matula and you'll be seeing a lot of her!

Congratulations on an exciting and rewarding season ladies. You should all be real proud to be a LADY BULLDOG!! We are looking forward to years of great volleyball out of you, ladies!! BULLDOG SPIRIT and BULLDOG PRIDE !!!

A short audio clip with JV results, recorded before the Varsity match:

Calling All DAWGS !!!

Calling all DAWGS, Calling all DAWGS.......

Folks, we are putting out a special message to ALL the Magnolia Lady Bulldogs Volleyball fans :

Senior Mary Chadwick

PLEASE call your friends, families, aquaintances and/or 'significant others' and invite them to come along with you to watch the Lady Bulldogs finish up their last district match against their long time rival: the Tomball Lady Cougars. You will undoubtedly be treated to a great, exciting, volleyball match; you would help support Magnolia High School and a deserving bunch of ladies; and have an enjoyable evening to boot - all for a little $3 general admission fee!! (I read recently that a match between two 5A volleyball high school rivals in the Austin area brought in 1900 hometown fans for their games...Wow!)

Senior Carli Springer

The Lady Bulldogs have worked extremely hard and have appreciated the support they've received all year long, and they will need that special 'Bulldog spirit' as an advantage for this game. The ladies would love to have as many fans at the game as possible to participate in the fun as they beat Tomball (for the second time this season) and to secure a 3rd place standing in one of the toughest 5A volleyball districts around. A victory in front of a large hometown crowd would be a nice way to send this team to the state playoffs - the first Magnolia 5A volleyball team to do so - and in turn, will put Magnolia volleyball on the 'map' as one of Houston's best areas for ladies' sports for years to come! A lot of people know about the Magnolia softball, track and basketball programs, but not enough know about how successful the ladies' volleyball programs have been at the 4A level and now, at 5A!!

Senior Heather Bowden

Tuesday night Oct 25th at 6PM, may be the last chance to see the ladies play this season at the Dawg House AND it could be the last time to watch our four great seniors: Carli Springer, Heather Bowden, Lauren Michael and Mary Chadwick - suiting up as Magnolia Lady Bulldogs team mates! Tuesday night will be 'Senior night' and has always been a special night for the graduating players...finishing it up against Tomball - makes it even better!

Senior Lauren Michael

Please, parents, grandparents and friends - COME ON DOWN and CHEER THE LADY BULLDOGS on to victory to cap off one of their most successful seasons ever - and have a great time doing it!! In addition, if you arrive before 5 PM you'll be able to watch the JV's beat up on Tomball - included in the admission price!! See you there!!!

GO GET 'EM LADY BULLDOGS !!!

Lady Bulldogs Bite Lady Rams at Crunch Time

Lady Bulldog Alicia Shaffer (shown serving here) had a good night playing

against Cy Ridge. Alicia and Michele Williams teamed up for a final block

assist that ended Game 3 and the match at 25-20.

We're in Game #3 where Cy Ridge put up a great fight keeping it close from the beginning of this game. Michele 'Boom Boom' Williams (15 kills for the night) took control of this one and literally 'rocked' the house with two kills: one at 10-11 and another at 14-13 (registered 7.6 on Richter Scale). After Hannah Fort had a nice kill at 16-13, the Lady Bulldogs decided it was a good time to take a short nap, and after awakening to the shrill of a whistle when a Magnolia time out was called- found themselves down 18-19. A Lauren Michael kill tied it at 19-19 and an Alicia Shaffer kill made it 20-19.

Lady Bulldog Caitlin Holland (junior) showing perfect form with an underhanded set.

This audio picks it up from there at 20-19:

17-5A STANDINGS 10/25/05

SEED TEAM DIST ALL SEED TEAM DIST ALL

1. Cypress Fair 15-0 30-3 vs 3. Cypress Creek 11-4 19-14

2. Langham Creek 12-3 23-9 vs 4. Cypress Falls 7-8 13-18

3. Magnolia 11-4 23-11 vs 6. Tomball 4-12 9-19

Lady Bulldogs Put it Together in Game #2

Coach J. and K. keeping the ladies on the 'edge' during a break at Cy Ridge.

This audio picks up at the tailend of Game #2 with the Lady Bulldogs dominating the scoreboard with maybe their biggest point differential against an opponent all season. We absolutely hate to gloat, but that was an old fashioned 'whupping'....