Four games in three days with a top six finish and the Haxtun Lady Bulldogs wrapped up the 2023 volleyball season on the biggest stage possible.
The Lady Bulldogs qualified for the 1A State Volleyball Tournament with a home court Regional win over Belleview Christian.
Haxtun entered the 1A finals bracket as the number ninth ranked team. That pitted the Lady Bulldogs in a match up with eighth ranked Dove Creek to open tournament play last Thursday at the Denver Coliseum.
Haxtun's state tournament appearance this season is the fourth over the past five years.
In an early morning contest with the Dove Creek Lady Bulldogs, Haxtun took set one 25-18 but fell by the same score in set two. The Bulldogs in red bounced back for a third set win but a loss in set four sent the match into five sets. Haxtun came up short 15-7, losing their first contest of the tournament sending the Lady Bulldogs to the opposite side of the 12-team bracket.
Saturday morning brought the Lady Bulldogs to the 1A court again, this time in a match up with Briggsdale.
The Lady Falcons entered the tournament as the seventh ranked team. In a second consecutive five-set contest, the Lady Bulldogs took sets one, three and five for the win to advance in finals play.
A win against Briggsdale advanced the Lady Bulldogs to the second round of Friday play in a contest with Weldon Valley.
Weldon Valley and Haxtun met up at the end of regular season play, that contest going to the Lady Bulldogs in five. This time, Haxtun dominated with a sweep, ending the Lady Warriors season.
Friday's victories put the Lady Bulldog on the court on Saturday morning to face off with the fourth ranked Simla Lady Cubs. The Lady Bulldogs battled point for point with the top ranked Lady Cubs but ultimately fell in three.
The Lady Bulldogs finished the 2023 season with an overall 19-9 record and in the top six at the 1A State Volleyball tournament.
Merino went on to win the Championship with a three set win over Simla.
Throughout the season, Haxtun went 5-2 at home, 7-1 on the road and held a 7-6 record on neutral ground. Of the 28 games played, the Lady Bulldogs took impressive wins over Fleming, Sedgwick County, who ended up as 2As runner-up at the State Tournament, Holyoke and Weldon Valley. The team also knocked a set off of the State Champion Merino Lady Rams, something only four teams accomplished this season.
The 2023 Lady Bulldog roaster includes six seniors who ended their high school volleyball careers last week. Seniors include Julia Freeman, Cassidy Goddard, Megan Walker, LouAnn Buccelli, Kirsta Dishman and Evelyn Mendoza.
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