DECATUR -- After winning its first conference game since its formation in 2015, the Decatur senior girls' volleyball team dropped two matches against a strong Green Forest team at home and at Shiloh Christian in Springdale.
The Bulldogs played their second home match of the season Aug. 29 against the Green Forest Tigers at Peterson Gym in Decatur. The Tigers defeated the Bulldogs in three sets, 25-13, 25-17, and 25-11, to win the match and hand Decatur its second non-conference loss of the season.
Talor Thompson and Cameron Shaffer both had good days along the net. Thompson had no trouble finding openings in the Green Forest line for several Decatur points. Likewise, Cameron Shaffer, team captain, forced several Tiger mistakes as she performed her duties at the outsider-hitter and setter positions, also adding to the Bulldog score. But it was not enough to hold off a strong Tiger team.
"We have a few bugs to work out in our lineup," said Jessica Castagna, Decatur volleyball coach. "Green Forest showed us where our weaknesses are and that is the area we will work on in the next few practices."
The Bulldogs traveled to Springdale Aug. 30 to take on a very tough Shiloh Christian team in the second league game of the season. This is the first of four conference matches that presented the Bulldogs with the biggest challenge this season.
The Bulldog senior girls struggled to get the ball over the net, allowing the Saints 17 consecutive points before finally scoring in the first two sets of the match. In the third set -- best three out of five -- Decatur began to fight back, managing to take a short lead in opening play. Decatur managed to tie the game at 11 all before Shiloh came back to take the match in three sets, 25-2, 25-2, and 25-13.
The Decatur volleyball program has seen so many new players wanting to learn the sport that Castagna and John Unger, Decatur Athletic Director, decided to form a junior high B team made up of seventh and eighth graders from Decatur Middle School. So far this team has shown the most promise this season, losing by only two points to the Saints, 25-23, in the second set and 25-15 in the first.
Likewise, the junior high team, made up of the eighth and ninth graders, also lost by a narrow margin in both of its sets, 25-19 and 25-15.
The Decatur Bulldogs will be back in action after the holiday when they travel to Lincoln Sept. 6 and host the Gravette Lions Sept. 8 in Peterson Gym at Decatur. Both matches begin at 4:30 p.m.
For a complete Decatur Bulldog volleyball schedule, go to decatursd.com/athletics.
Sports on 09/07/2016