Decatur gets win, loses another match

October 5, 2021 at 1:02 p.m.

by Michael Eckels

Westside Eagle Observer/MIKE ECKELS Lady Bulldog Brooklyn Todd catches the ball with her forearms launching it over the net into Lady Griffins country during the Sept. 27 Ozark Catholic Academy-Decatur varsity volleyball match at the AAO complex in Fayetteville.
Westside Eagle Observer/MIKE ECKELS Lady Bulldog Brooklyn Todd catches the ball with her forearms launching it over the net into Lady Griffins country during the Sept. 27 Ozark Catholic Academy-Decatur varsity volleyball match at the AAO complex in Fayetteville.

FAYETTEVILLE -- The Decatur Lady Bulldogs started their second week on the road with a stop in Fayetteville to take on the Ozark Catholic Academy Lady Griffins at the Arkansas Athletes Outreach complex on Sept. 27. Then it was on to a two-hour trip to Mulberry for a conference contest against the Lady Yellowjackets.

The results? A win against the Lady Yellowjackets and a loss to the Lady Griffins in straight sets.

The Ozark Catholic Academy grabbed control of the first set, jumping out in front by 12 points before the Lady Bulldogs put their first point on the scoreboard. Soon Decatur came alive and managed a run, quickly catching up to the Lady Griffins. The run lasted only a short time before Ozark Catholic caught its second wind and surged back, eventually taking the set, 25-16.

Decatur was first to score in the second set, jumping ahead by three points. Gradually, the Lady Griffins went on a run of their own, overtaking the Lady Bulldogs for the lead. From this point, the Lady Griffins and Lady Bulldogs went back and forth, with several long volleys ensuing. However, three straight points gave Ozark Catholic the second set, 25-19.

The third and final set was a mirror image of the previous one, with the Lady Bulldogs fighting it out until the Lady Griffins jumped out ahead, taking the set 25-19 for the conference win in straight sets over the Decatur Lady Bulldogs.

Decatur barely had time to lament over the loss before the team was on the road once again, this time traveling to Mulberry to take on the Lady Yelllowjackets in the second conference match of the week. This time, the junior high A and B teams joined the journey south.

The outcome was much different. The Lady Bulldog varsity team had little trouble defeating the Lady Yellowjackets -- 25-18, 25-11, 25-13 -- for the conference win.

Likewise, both junior high teams also won their matches in two straight sets each.

Westside Eagle Observer/MIKE ECKELS Lady Bulldog Annabelle Bell attempts to reach a ball hit short over the net by a Lady Griffin late in the second set of the Ozark Catholic Academy-Decatur volleyball match in Fayetteville Sept. 27. In spite of her maximum effort the ball falls onto the Decatur court for a Lady Griffin point.
Westside Eagle Observer/MIKE ECKELS Lady Bulldog Annabelle Bell attempts to reach a ball hit short over the net by a Lady Griffin late in the second set of the Ozark Catholic Academy-Decatur volleyball match in Fayetteville Sept. 27. In spite of her maximum effort the ball falls onto the Decatur court for a Lady Griffin point.
Westside Eagle Observer/MIKE ECKELS After a Lady Griffin front line player dumps the ball over the net, Lady Bulldog Lilly Lee drops to her knees to intercept the ball before it hits the floor during the Ozark Catholic-Decatur volleyball contest in Fayetteville Sept.27. Lee was able to pop the ball back to a team mate who intern sent the ball back over the net.
Westside Eagle Observer/MIKE ECKELS After a Lady Griffin front line player dumps the ball over the net, Lady Bulldog Lilly Lee drops to her knees to intercept the ball before it hits the floor during the Ozark Catholic-Decatur volleyball contest in Fayetteville Sept.27. Lee was able to pop the ball back to a team mate who intern sent the ball back over the net.