The DAWGS started the match out with a quick 5-1 lead, before the Lady War Eagles could leave their nest; then Oak Ridge showed why they are a talented team in their own right - by swooping down and tightening the score to 1 at 8-7; and then catching the DAWGS before they pulled away at 13-13. It was the Lady Bulldogs' turn to chase the Eagles as Oak Ridge rattled off 3 straight points to lead at 16-13 and went up to 4 at 18-14, before the DAWGS called time out to talk things over. The DAWGS proceeded to outscore the Birds 9 to 2 when it mattered most behind a lethal combination of power and versatility: a Kelli Stewart dink at 15-18; a Katzy Randall blast at 16-19; a pivotal Meagan Little kill at 18-19; another Katzy Randall bullet at 20-20; a tricky tip (try saying that 10 times real fast!) by Meagan Little at 21-20; then another follow-up kill by Katzy at 22-20. The Lady Eagles came back with 2 great blocks of their own and tied the score at 23-23 before senior hitter Kelli Stewart again drew the Eagles closer to the net and tipped the ball over their wings at 24-23 and all that was left to do was untangle the Birds who were in the net at 25-23 and move on to the next set.
An opportunistic Katzy Randall shown here "re-gifting"
a Lady War Eagle 'happy birthday' (over-pass) for a kill.
The DAWGS were unrelenting in the second set, jumping on the Lady Eagles with an 8 point advantage at 8-0, before giving points back to close the score to 3 at 9-6. The DAWGS blew ahead - outscoring the Eagles 12 to 2 to put themselves in command at 21-8 before trading points, 4 each ...... and the final read: 25-12.
MB Courtney Felinski (L) and OHR Breane Matula
putting the Lady War Eagle's attack attempt...down!!
The third set belonged to Kelli Stewart who worked her magic with 4 kills out of the first 5 DAWGIE points at 5-2 and the teams wrestled, locked in hand-to-hand combat at the net and on the court - staying close to each other and tying themselves up 7 times until to the last time at 13-13. The DAWGS controlled the set from that point to the finish, keeping a 2 to 3 point lead throughout until 23-20, when all that was needed was 2 straight points, and the (Eagles') nightmare was over: DAWGS 25...BIRDS 20.
Senior OHL Kelli Stewart lit up and scattered
the Lady War Eagles for 18 kills tonight.
The Magnolia Lady Bulldogs (27-13) were led by Kelli Stewart who had 18 kills, 1 block assist and 2 aces; Katzy Randall with 11 kills, 4 block assists and 2 aces; Meagan Little who had 8 kills, 1 solo block and 4 assist blocks and 2 aces; Courtney Felinski's 5 kills, 4 block assists and 1 ace; Breane Matula who had 1 kill and 2 block assists; senior libero Hannah Davies who had a backrow kill and 2 aces; and with a ton of excellent sets by sophomore Paige Holland who finished the meeting with 37 assists and 1 block assist.
GREAT JOB LADY BULLDOGS!!
DAWGS, PLAYOFF BOUND!!!
