Lady Bulldogs take home-opening match over Akron Lady Rams

 

March 24, 2021



Just four days after their basketball season ended, the Lady Bulldogs took the court again, this time to kick off the 2021 volleyball season. The 18-member squad is under the direction of Head Coach Paige Thompson, Assistant Coach Don Schelling and Volunteer Coaches Marissa Schelling and Callie Dickerson.

The Lady Bulldogs wrapped up State basketball playoffs on March 11 in Briggsdale, took the court for their first volleyball practice just four days later and officially kicked off the volleyball season with a Friday, March 19 home-court triangle with contests against Akron and Sedgwick County.

Despite having just four practices under their belts, the Lady Bulldogs gave an impressive showing in their first contest of the season, taking down the Akron Lady Rams in five sets in front of a home crowd Friday afternoon. Haxtun fell by nine in the first set, but came back to take sets two and three by scores of 25-15. The Lady Rams earned set four by a two-point margin but Haxtun answered back with a 15-13 fifth set win to earn the victory in the Lady Bulldogs’ season opener.

Junior Taylor Schram led her team in kills throughout the first five sets of the season, slamming down 15. Teammate Allie Thompson added 13 kills followed by freshmen Megan Walker and Cassidy Goddard, each with eight. At the net, Goddard led the Lady Bulldogs with four blocks. Schram added two and Thompson and K’lyn Bornhoft each blocked one.

From behind the service line, three Lady Bulldogs went 100 percent against Akron, led by Ella Coffin who served 27 balls without any errors. Walker served 16 and Thompson served 14, both earning a 100 percent service rating. Schram tallied three aces in her 16 serve attempts.

Thompson added 23 assists on the afternoon, followed by Schram with 18.

The contest following Haxtun and Akron featured Akron against the Sedgwick County Lady Cougars, who took the win in four sets, sending the Lady Rams home with an 0-2 start to their 2021 season.

The final matchup of the day featured the hometown Lady Bulldogs and visiting Lady Cougars. Haxtun took set one, 27-25, but fell to Sedgwick County in the next two, 25-22 and 25-17. The fourth set was close, but Haxtun edged past the Lady Cougars with a 25-23 win to send the contest into the fifth and final set. Despite a hard-fought effort, Haxtun took a 15-11 loss, falling in five.

Thompson led the Lady Bulldogs in the final five sets of the day, putting down 15 kills. Schram added 10 and Goddard put down six. Thompson also led at the net in blocks with two followed by Goddard and Bella Tori, each with one.

For the second contest in a row, Thompson served 100 percent, sending over 16 serves. Goddard also earned a 100 percent rating against Sedgwick County, putting over 17. Walker and Goddard each tallied two service aces against the Lady Cougars.

Setters Schram and Thompson combined for a total 31 assists throughout the five sets.

“After months of waiting and a short week of practice the girls did a great job playing some tough teams,” Thompson said of the season opener. “Akron and Sedg. Co. are two quality teams with strong hitters and I was happy with how the girls responded. We worked hard for 10 sets and definitely had some great things happen. We have two freshmen who had their first varsity experience and stepped up and did a great job. Our returning varsity players came together well and played hard in a new rotation. I felt that the girls overall served especially well, with over half our team serving 100 percent for the night!”

This week the Lady Bulldogs are set to face off in another triangle event, this time with the Akron Lady Rams and the Caliche Lady Buffs. The game, slated to begin at 4 p.m., will be at Caliche. According to Maxpreps, the Lady Buffs opened their season with a four-set win over Peetz last week.

“We will continue to work hard in practice and look forward to our triangular Friday,” Thompson added.

 

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