DAWGS Overcome Slow Start To Pass War Eagles

The Magnolia Lady Bulldogs overcame a sluggish start against a stubborn Oak Ridge Lady War Eagles team in the first set Tuesday night to capture the ladies near the end of the game in a near sprint. The DAWGS have maintained a perfect 15-5A district record all season and for a while, it looked like the streak was in jepoardy when the Lady War Eagles earned as much as a 4 point lead early in the set at 7-3 behind some impressive play of their own. The DAWGS kept their cool however, and patiently battled back, earning every point the hard way: a Hannah Fort kill here, an Alicia Shaffer kill there, then another Hannah Fort/Alicia Shaffer combo block assist put the DAWGS back in the hunt at 6-7 where the DAWGS stayed closer until later.

Hannah Fort (left) and Alicia Shaffer (right) backed the War Eagles down with their defense.

The Lady War Eagles kept the upper hand (or wing) but couldn't pull any farther out front than a 3 point margin as Michele 'Boom Boom' Williams lit 'em up with a couple of blasts in the middle of the court at 9-11 and 12-13; then added on that awesome "Boom Boom Glide" kill shot of her's at 13-15; and a couple of ace serves by Alicia Shaffer who scattered the War Eagles at 10-11 and 11-11 then later down the road, a nice kill at 15-17; and a bullet by Hannah Fort at 14-16... kept things honest until Oak Ridge blinked and couldn't seem to hold the momentum and began their downward spiral while suddenly realizing the DAWGS had 'em grounded at 17-17 and not only was their coup d'etat losing steam, but it was time for a time-out!

Alicia Shaffer shown here jump serving one of 4 Aces for the evening.

When play resumed, Kelli Stewart immediately pounced on 'em with a laser-guided missle of a shot down the right side line at 18-17, and a "Happy Birthday" present of a blast by Hannah Fort at 19-17, and then following it up with a hit off the defenders' claws at 20-18 - to put the DAWGS in a familiar place.....it's called being the lead dog. They say the view never changes unless you're the lead dog and the Lady Bulldogs could only see blue skies and the horizon as they were in the midst of an 8-1 run when this audio file starts:

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GREAT JOB LADY BULLDOGS!!!