DECATUR -- It was seniors night as the Decatur volleyball team played its final home game of the 2016 season at Peterson Gym on Oct. 11.
Prior to the start of the final match of the night, three senior girls were honored for their dedication to the Decatur High School volleyball program. Escorted by a family member, each girl was led to the bleacher side of the court to receive flowers, assorted gifts and a volleyball signed by every member of the 2016 team. At the conclusion of the ceremony, Isabel Rodriguez, Cameron Shaffer and Shaney Lee were given a round of applause from teammates, coaches and fans.
Lee, along with team mate Mailee Xiong, formulated the idea to bring a volleyball program to Decatur High School. Their efforts, combined with the team's sponsors, Jessica Hartman and Jessi Castagna, organized the first team in 2015. Now in its second year, the Decatur High volleyball program has grown into three teams, junior high B, junior high and senior high.
After the festivities, it was time to play volleyball.
The Bulldogs struggled in the first two sets, falling behind early and never catching up. The Tigers took both sets, 25 to 9 and 25 to 10.
After a rousing speech by Coach Castagna, Decatur took the court a different team in the third. The team racked up three consecutive points in the early stages of the match to lead 3 to 0. The Tigers came back to tie the set at 4 all. For the next 10 minutes, the lead changed hands four times before Prairie Grove called a time out. After the time out, the Bulldogs' hot streak ended as the Tigers increased pressure, costing Decatur several points and any chance of regaining the lead. The Tigers took the third set, 25 to 16, and another conference match.
The Decatur Bulldogs were on the road Oct. 13 to take on the Elkins Elks in their final match of the 2016 season.
In the junior high B match, Prairie Grove and Decatur split the first two sets, 25 to 10 and 24 to 26, to go to a tie breaker match. Prairie Grove took the third set, 15 to 9, and the match.
The Prairie Grove Tigers defeated the Decatur Bulldogs in two straight sets, 25 to 11 and 25 to 10, in the junior high match.
Sports on 10/19/2016