DECATUR -- The intensity levels at Peterson Gym in Decatur were at a season-high as the Decatur Lady Bulldog varsity volleyball team took the court Oct. 2 for the final home match of 2018. The end result was an overwhelming victory in straight sets over the Mulberry Lady Yellowjackets.
Before the start of the varsity match, Lady Bulldog fans bid farewell to seniors Desi Meek and Mckinzee Swaim as they prepared to play their final match in front of family and friends. Meek and Swaim were recognized during the senior night festivities which included a walk down center court with mom and dad on each arm. Coach Tajhe Turner and assistant coach Laramie Burge presented the two with a framed collage of photos and other volleyball memorabilia and a signed volleyball. Afterward, the team posed for one final picture at Peterson Gym before the Lady Bulldogs got down to business.
Decatur took control of the first set, leaving Mulberry in its wake. With the intensity level on a steady climb for the Lady Bulldogs, they quickly dispatched the Lady Yellowjackets in set one, 25-7.
In the second set, the Lady Yellowjackets caught the Lady Bulldogs completely off guard as Mulberry built a 14-2 lead over a stunned Decatur team. A quick timeout to regroup by Turner turned the momentum in the Lady Bulldogs' favor. Working like a finely-tuned machine, Decatur made up ground and overtook the lead for good, taking the second set, 25-18.
The Lady Bulldogs kicked up the intensity level a notch as they pumped serve after serve into just the right spot, building an enormous lead over Mulberry in the final minutes of the match. At match point, the stage was set for a celebration the likes of which Peterson had never seen in volleyball. When Mulberry missed the final ball, Peterson Gym exploded in sounds of jubilation as the Decatur Lady Bulldogs defeated the Mulberry Lady Yellowjackets, 25-12, taking the conference victory, three sets to zero.
The Decatur Lady Bulldogs junior high and junior varsity also won their matches against the Mulberry Lady Yellowjackets earlier in the afternoon.
Decatur traveled to Lavaca Oct. 4 to take on the Lady Golden Arrows in the final regular season showdown of 2018. Lavaca, as it had all season, had no trouble overpowering the Lady Bulldogs, taking the match in three sets, 25-8, 25-13, 25-9.
The Lady Bulldog volleyball team finished the regular season with a 6-5 conference and a 6-10 overall record for 2018.
Decatur ends the season with a fourth-place finish in the 2A Northwest conference, moving into postseason tournament action. At present, the Lady Bulldogs will meet the Lady Yellowjackets in the district tournament in Lavaca. A win would secure a berth in the state playoffs in Jonesboro later this month.
For more information on tournament brackets and times, go to decatursd.com/athletics.
Sports on 10/10/2018