Lady Bulldogs stung by Lady Hornets in conference matchup

Westside Eagle Observer/MIKE ECKELS Destiny Mejia (center) uses a forearm pass to send the ball over the net into Lady Hornet territory during the second set of the Decatur-Hackett conference volleyball match in Decatur on Thursday.
Westside Eagle Observer/MIKE ECKELS Destiny Mejia (center) uses a forearm pass to send the ball over the net into Lady Hornet territory during the second set of the Decatur-Hackett conference volleyball match in Decatur on Thursday.

DECATUR -- Coming off a conference win over the Mulberry Lady Yellowjackets on Oct. 1 in Mulberry, the Decatur Lady Bulldogs faced off against the 2A West leader, the Hackett Lady Hornets, on Thursday at Decatur Middle School.

As with the match with Prairie Grove three days earlier, simple lapses in concentration and loss of focus plagued the Lady Bulldogs as the team struggled through the three-set match. The Hackett Hornets easily defeated the Lady Bulldogs in the first two sets, 25-10 and 25-11.

However, in the early going of the third set, the Lady Bulldogs held a slim lead until the Lady Hornets tied the set at seven all. A timeout by Hackett switched the momentum in the Lady Hornets' favor. From this point on, the Lady Bulldogs managed only six more points and the Lady Hornets took the set, 25-13, and the conference win in three straight sets.

The Decatur Lady Bulldogs faced Northwest Arkansas Classical Academy Lady Spartans Tuesday (after press time) and were to meet the Lavaca Lady Golden Arrows on Thursday in the final two home matches of the season.

Before the Lavaca match, seniors Destiny Mejia, Kaylee Morales, Kailey Sutherland, Kyleigh McBride and Natalie Rodriguez will be recognized for their commitment to the Lady Bulldog volleyball program.

The junior high A volleyball team was also defeated in an earlier match with the junior high Lady Hornets, 25-10 and 25-19.

Sports on 10/09/2019