Lady Bulldogs On A Roll

The Lady Bulldogs are on a roll. They collected a 3-1 non-conference volleyball victory over Sioux Valley September 20, in Volga. The team improved their record to 7-3 with the win.

Milbank Area started at a slightly slower pace in the first set before going on a 9-0 run to take the lead at 14-9. The Cossacks battled back to within one point, but the Bulldogs surged ahead 18-14. The teams evened the score three times before settling in at 21-21 late in the set. Milbank Area scored the final four points with a tip kill by Mikaela Hoeke, an ace by Maty Lightfield, a Sioux Valley error, and a kill by Molly Rick to win the set at 25-21.

The Lady Bulldogs got out to a quick lead in the second set when Madi Schulte dropped in two consecutive aces. Gabbi Cummins pounded down the ball for two big kills which seemed to deflate the Cossacks sails. Caryssa Mielitz took charge late in the set to finish off the win at 25-14.

Milbank Area lightened up its play and Sioux Valley pulled together for a tight third set. The score was tied seven times, before the Lady Bulldogs found themselves trailing 14-10, 18-13 and 23-18. But the Lady Dawgs were not ready to concede the set. Mielitz made two kills with Sioux Valley committing an error to cut the deficit to 23-21. Two more unforced errors by Sioux Valley evened the score at 23-23. A Sioux Valley kill and a Lady Bulldog error gave the Cossacks the 25-23 win.

In the fourth set, Milbank Area found themselves behind at 19-17. The Lady Bulldogs inched their way back into the contest point by point and evened things up at 23-23. Mielitz made a kill to take the lead at 24-23 and Sioux Valley hit the ball into the net. The Lady Bulldogs won 25-23.

Mielitz led the Lady Bulldog attack with 26 kills on 52-58 hitting, two aces on 14-15 serving, three assists, and 18 digs. M. Hoeke went 88-91 setting with 30 assists, 23-23 serving, 21-25 hitting with eight kills, eight digs, and one block. Rick added seven kills on 26-34 hitting, two aces on 10-13 serving, and 28 digs.

Schulte dropped in two aces on 21-21 serving, two assists on 9-9 setting, and had 17 digs. Mac Schuelke tallied nine assists on 40-40 setting, one ace on 7-8 serving, and 13 digs. Also contributing to the Lady Bulldog victory were: Lightfield, two aces on 19-19 serving and three digs; Jaecy Engebretson, three kills on 11-13 hitting and one block; Jaden Hoeke, three kills on 9-12 hitting, two assists on 9-9 setting and four digs; Cummins, four kills on 8-10 hitting and three digs; and Mady Hilbrands, one kill on 3-3 hitting and two digs.

Milbank Area will host Clark-Willow Lake Thursday, September 22, at the Milbank Armory. The junior varsity team will begin at 6 p.m. Varsity follows. There will not be a C game.

In Junior Varsity play, Milbank Area suffered a close 2-1 loss to Sioux Valley and fell to 3-4 on the season. The young Lady Bulldogs won the first set 25-22 before falling 25-16. The teams battled it out in the final set, but Milbank Area fell 15-13.

“The JV team totaled 20 kills which is a pretty good number for this young team,” said JV coach Nancy Paulson. “However, they missed 10 serves during the match, which is about a 75% accuracy rate overall. This is way too many misses to beat a quality team like Sioux Valley.”

Junior Molly Rick