Tigers Bite Bulldogs in Volleyball

The Lady Bulldogs played the final home match of their regular volleyball season on Friday, October 19. Their opponent, Groton, came to play and played to win. The Tigers defeated Milbank in three of four sets; 25-22, 17-25, 16-25, 24-26.

Coach Nancy Hoeke said, “The first set we got off to a good start and continued with a strong finish. We earned the last five points of the set with an ace, three kills, and a block. That’s how we’d like to finish all the time!” Unfortunately, the team couldn’t keep the upper hand, losing the last three sets to the Tigers.

Coach Hoeke also commented, “We were without our senior setter/outside hitter, Gabbi Cummins, who’s out with an injury. Amy Nelson stepped in to handle the setting duties. Jaden Hoeke picked up some of the slack getting her career high number of kills with 15.”

The Bulldogs’ serving stayed strong at 92 percent. Jacey Engebretson, Katie Wollschlager, Jaden Hoeke, Tonya Meyer, and Amy Nelson collaboratively compiled five aces.

J. Hoeke led in kills with 15, followed by Engebretson with 14. Makayla Johnson and Nelson added six each. Engebretson dished out 20 assists; Nelson had 11.

Wollschlager led in digs with 22, and Anna Mathews led in blocks with two solo and two assists. Johnson also had a solo block and four assists. Tracy Pillatzki got on the board with one solo block and two assists.

Coach Hoeke’s final comments included: “Groton’s powerful and strategic attack and excellent defense was just too much for us. I thought we played quite competitively, especially in the fourth set. We were down 22-24 and tied it up 24-24, so we put ourselves in a position to win the set. That’s what I like to see the team do.”

The Lady Bulldogs play their last road game against Tiospa Zina on Tuesday, October 23, at 7 p.m.