Lady Bulldogs Extend Match with Groton; Fall to Madison

The Lady Bulldogs volleyball team found themselves in a position to win, but fell just short at  3-1 to Groton on October 15 at the Milbank Armory. The loss came on the heels of an earlier loss to Madison, one of the top teams in Class A, in the Battle of the Bulldogs on October 13.

Milbank started slower in the Groton match, but pulled to within two points at 17-19 with an ace by Madi Thue. Unforced errors by both teams moved the score to 19-23. Casside Seezs belted out a kill to up the Lady Bulldogs’ score to 20, but two Milbank errors gave Groton the 20-25 victory.

In the second set, the score was tied four times until Milbank went on a run to take the lead at 18-14. Groton found empty floor and evened the score again at 20-20. The Lady Bulldogs surged ahead at 24-22 with back-to-back kills by Thue, but three consecutive Milbank errors gave Groton a one point advantage at 24-25. Another Tiger kill snatched the victory for Groton at 24-26.

In the third set, Milbank took charge at 18-15 with serving aces by Averie Engebretson and Hallie Schulte and a kill by Thue. Seezs added two kills to widen the gap to 24-17. Milbank committed two errors, but Siri Bien pulled off a kill to seal the win at 25-19.

The Lady Bulldogs trailed for most of the fourth set, but hung close to the Tigers. A kill by Rachel Schulte brought Milbank to within four points at 17-21.  Groton then committed two errors to cut the deficit to 19-21. Additional errors were committed by both teams to close out the scoring. Unfortunately, Milbank was on the short end at 22-25.

Thue led the Lady Bulldogs with 14 kills on 38-42 hitting, one ace on 14-14 serving, one block, and 12 digs. Rachel Schulte followed with eight kills on 27-31 hitting, 4-4 setting, one dig, and one block.  Seezs added eight kills on 22-25 hitting, 7-8 serving, and three digs. Bien tallied four kills on 21-27 hitting, one assist on 4-4 setting, two aces on 12-13 serving, and two digs. Engebretson chipped in three kills on 20-23 hitting, 17 assists on 56-56 setting, three aces on 15-18 serving, and three digs.

For the defense, Hallie Schulte led the team with 27 digs. She also added one ace on 16-18 serving, one assist on 3-3 setting, and 2-4 hitting.  Jessica Van Peursem posted 12 assists on 38-39 setting, 4-4 hitting, one ace on 11-13 serving, and one dig; Joci McFarland, 6-6 hitting and two assists on 4-4 setting; Shelby Lee, 3-4 hitting, and Lindsey Mertens, 1-1 hitting, 1-1 setting, and eight digs.

Milbank 0, Madison 3

Milbank suffered a 3-0 loss to Madison, one of the top teams in Class A, on Tuesday, October 13, at the Milbank Armory. Milbank fell in the battle of the Bulldogs by scores of 10-25, 9-25, and 13-25.

Thue led Milbank with eight kills on 28-34 hitting, 5-5 serving, and four digs. Lee followed with two kills on 10-15 hitting and one assist on 3-3 setting. Seezs tallied two kills on 8-10 hitting and 3-3 serving.  

Engebretson had one kill on 13-13 hitting, seven assists on 19-21 setting, 5-5 serving, and two digs.

H. Schulte led the Lady Bulldogs defense with 21 digs. She also went 4-4 serving. Bien recorded 2-2 hitting and one ace on 6-7 serving; Van Peursem, five assists on 17-18 setting, one ace on 2-3 serving, 3-3 hitting, and one dig; Mertens, three digs; and McFarland, 5-7 hitting and one dig.