Girls VB Loses Battle of the Bulldogs

The Milbank Area Lady Bulldogs suffered a 3-0 loss to the Madison Bulldogs in the annual Battle of the Bulldogs. The volleyball matchup took place Tuesday, October 11, at the Milbank Armory. Milbank Area dropped to 13-5 with the loss.

Milbank Area trailed midway through the first set at 16-13. The locals came back to even the score at 16-16 with a tip-kill by Jaden Hoeke and two errors by Madison. Madison surged ahead at 22-17 after three consecutive errors by Milbank Area. The locals were unable to cut into the deficit and a final service error by Milbank Area resulted in a 25-19 loss.

In the second set, Milbank Area trailed 20-18 late in the set. A Madison kill and a blocking error by Milbank Area widened the gap to 22-18. Caryssa Mielitz made a kill and Madison hit the ball into the net to move the score to 22-20. Mikaela Hoeke helped pull Milbank Area to within one point at 23-22 with a serving ace, but Madison again made a kill to push ahead at 24-22. J. Hoeke came up with a big block to move Milbank Area to within one point of the opponent at 24-23. A serve into the net by Mielitz led to the 25-23 second set loss for Milbank Area.

The teams continued the battle in the third set. Madison got out to a quick start at 10-4. Milbank Area went on a short run to pull within two points at 10-8 with two aces by Mielitz, a kill by Molly Rick, and a Madison error. Madison again widened the gap to 15-9, but Milbank Area answered with two kills by Rick and errors by Madison to move the score to 16-14. The score teetered until Milbank Area was within one point at 22-21. Madison’s go-to girl belted out a kill and Milbank Area committed an error to give Madison the 24-21 advantage. Jaecy Engebretson and Jaden Hoeke teamed up for a block and Rick dumped the ball over the net for a tip-kill to cut the deficit to 24-23. Madison then found the open floor for a kill and the 25-23 win.

Mielitz led Milbank Area with 16 kills on 47-51 hitting, three aces on 9-10 serving, one assist on 3-3 setting, and 16 digs. Rick followed with nine kills on 20-24 hitting, 7-8 serving, 4-4 setting, and 14 digs. Jaecy Engebretson tallied four kills on 12-14 hitting, 13-13 serving, 5-5 setting with two assists, three digs, and one block.

M. Hoeke contributed two kills on 13-16 hitting, 19 assists on 67-68 setting, two aces on 11-12 serving, 13 digs and one block. J. Hoeke chipped in two kills on 6-9 hitting, three assists on 9-10 setting, four digs, and three blocks.

Also adding to the totals for Milbank Area were: Mackayla Schuelke, eight assists on 12-12 setting, 8-9 serving, 2-2 hitting, and 12 digs; Madi Schulte, 8-8 setting and seven digs; Maty Lightfield, 8-8 serving and two digs; Mady Hilbrands, two kills on 2-2 hitting, three digs, and one block; and LaChasity Finley, one kill on 2-2 hitting and two digs.

Milbank Area will travel to Redfield-Doland Thursday, October 13, and will host Northwestern Saturday, October 15, at the Milbank Armory.

Defensive specialists: Madi Schulte, Molly Rick, and Caryssa Mielitz.