DECATUR --In the final matches of the 2016 season, the Lady Bulldog junior and senior high girls' volleyball teams traveled to two separate locations in Arkansas to participate in their first district tournaments since the program began last year.
The junior high team traveled to Bergman Oct. 15 to take on the Alpena Leopards in the gym at Bergman High School.
The Bulldogs struggled and quickly fell behind in the first set, losing it to the Leopards, 25 to 8. In the second set, Decatur managed to hang on for a while, but Alpena was too strong and the Leopards took the second set, 25 to 12, and the match in two straight sets.
For Jessi Castagna, who is in her second year as volleyball coach, the team has come a long way since the beginning of the season in August.
"They are so sad, but they have improved so much," said Castagna. "I'm just proud of them, super proud. It was a good season."
The senior girls' team traveled to Green Forest Oct. 17 for the first round of the 3A North district tournament at Green Forest High School. The Bulldogs' opponent for the first round was the host team, the Green Forest Tigers.
The Tigers finished their regular season in third place, behind Bergman and Valley Springs, 4 and 7 in conference and 9 and 16 overall. The Decatur senior girls finished their first regular season in sixth place, ahead of rival, Eureka Springs.
The Bulldogs kept pace with the Tigers in the first set. After several good rallies which landed in Decatur's favor, the Bulldogs managed to stay within striking distance of the Tigers. But 10 points later, Green Forest landed the set point, giving them the first set, 25 to 15.
Green Forest took the second set, 25 to 9, and proved too strong in the third, as well, taking the third and final set, 25 to 15, and ending Decatur's season.
Sports on 10/26/2016