An exuberant scene as the Lady Bulldogs buried the
Temple TemCats in a sweep for the Area Championship.
The Magnolia Lady Bulldogs went to work tonight and clearly finished off at least 3 of the last 9 lives of the TemCats by sweeping the Temple ladies volleyball squad (25-17, 25-14, and 25-14) at the A&M Consolidated gymnasium. The District 13-5A team could not match Magnolia's speed, power, defense or experience this evening but gave it all they could in this Area matchup. In the end and after the dust had settled, the difference between the two second round teams- was too clear and wide. Once the powerful DAWGS got in the lead, the view never changed for Temple...
Lady Bulldog OH Alicia Shaffer aggressively corners Lady TemCat setter Katy Houchin.
The Lady Bulldogs opened set #1 with a variety of 'pointmakers': MB Michele Williams' first kill of the evening and Magnolia's first point came from her patented Boom Boom Glide at 1-0; and a booming Happy Birthday "gift" (of a loaded missle) for the 'Cats at 4-1; and a hammer from the backrow at 9-5....OH Alicia 'Big Al' Shaffer's timely kills at 5-2 and at 8-4 and her stellar defense kept the TemCats on their back paws, but it was her jump serving aces that really made them as nervous as being caught in a chorus line....... yah, at Riverdance!! When Hannah Fort blew in her contributions: two patented Hannah Hustle Glides, one at 7-4 and another at 12-7 and then a serving ace at 13-7, well the Lady TemCats suddenly realized they were playing District 15-5A ball!! Great defense out of Kelli Stewart with a block at 15-8 had the benevolent DAWGS cruising to a 25-17 finish. Ding!... done-deal...set #1 in the books, with DAWGS 1-0.
Give you one guess where this one's going? Lady Bulldog setter Caitlin
Holland backsetting to MB Hannah Fort for another Glide kill shot....
Again, MB Michele Williams opened the second game, 'errrr.... assault, with a shot at 1-0 and a "double-shot" at 2-0, then a dink resulting from a Kelli Stewart/Williams' combo block at 3-0. That was all that was needed, as OH Kristyn Bergen teed one off at 4-1, then some nifty serving out of OHR Kelli Stewart for a couple of aces at 5-1 and 6-1 put the gap between the two teams at 5 points. The DAWGS wanted more, and got it, from Michele Williams again with a kill at 9-1, a block at 10-2, and a Shaffer/Williams block assist at 11-2... which had the TemCats in a frenzy and looking for the exit door. Still, the DAWGS wanted more!.... OH Jamie Kaleh had a kill at 12-2, but when Alicia Shaffer hit a ball off the defenders' hands at 14-3, the margin of victory (11 points) was achieved at 14-3 and held up, to finish at 25-14.....Ding Ding!! .... now, that was a warning shot!! DAWGS up 2-0...!!
Game 3 started out with a series of unearned points from both teams with both teams tying each other up at 1-1, 3-3, 6-6, 7-7, and 8-8 before the DAWGS separated themselves at 10-8 when Alicia 'Big Serve' Shaffer rattled the TemCats, (Big time!) with a jump serve ace that couldn't be returned...and another at 11-8. You could tell the TemCats suddenly realized they'd been here before, and began to fade. Despite a valiant, last spurt at 13-12 by Temple, Michele Williams again turned around the momentum with a kill at 14-12 before turning it over to Kristyn Bergen who really scattered the 'Cats with two kills at 16-12 and 17-12. The confident DAWGS went on to outscore their opponents 8 to 2 at "crunch time" and sweep the match for the Area Championship.
Lady Bulldog MB Michele Williams led the attack with 12 kills, 2 solo blocks and 2 assist blocks along with 5 digs; while team mate OH Alicia Shaffer had a great evening of volleyball scoring a double-double: 11 kills and 10 digs with 1 assist block and 4 aces. Junior Hannah Fort was busy as well with 7 kills, 2 digs, 2 solo blocks and 1 assist block. Kristyn Bergen had another great night of playing with 6 kills and 8 digs; Jamie Kaleh and Kelli Stewart both had 1 kill each and Ashlynn Newman had an assist block. Setters Caitlin Holland led the DAWGS' assists with 17 and 2 digs; and Hannah Davies had 14 assists while adding 4 digs to the mix. Solid....all the way around!
Magnolia Lady Bulldogs Coach J keeping the DAWGS in check!
Great job, Lady Bulldogs but.... there's more work ahead to be completed!! The Lady Bulldogs will now advance to the Regional Quarterfinal against the winner of the Tomball/A&M Consolidated match (Fri. night) on either Monday or Tuesday. (details late Friday when available).
Thanks to all of you for your support! The team members are:
#1 Caitlin Holland, #2 Mandi Gray, #3 Michele Williams, #4 Kristyn Bergen, #5 Samantha Lange, #6 Ashley Meeks, #7 Jamie Kaleh, #8 Kelli Stewart, #9 Hannah Fort, #10 Alicia Shaffer, #11 Ashlynn Newman, #12 Anna Barren, #13 Ashley Howe, #14 Hannah Davies, #15 Kati Michael.....Joining the varsity for the playoffs: Angela Yzaguirre, Breane Matula, Meagan Little, Jamie Paulson, and Britany Wheaton.
GO DAWGS!!! BULLDOG PRIDE!!!
