Lady Bulldogs drop one, pickup a win in final week of volleyball season

October 19, 2021 at 8:15 a.m.

by Michael Eckels

Westside Eagle Observer/MIKE ECKELS Lady Bulldog Sunshine Thor (12) passes the ball back over the net and into Lady Tiger territory during the Decatur-Mansfield junior high volleyball match in Decatur Oct. 11. The junior high team claimed the victory in two sets to keep the team's winning streak alive.
Westside Eagle Observer/MIKE ECKELS Lady Bulldog Sunshine Thor (12) passes the ball back over the net and into Lady Tiger territory during the Decatur-Mansfield junior high volleyball match in Decatur Oct. 11. The junior high team claimed the victory in two sets to keep the team's winning streak alive.

DECATUR -- In the final week of the regular 2021 volleyball season, the Decatur Lady Bulldogs returned to the gym at Decatur Middle School on Oct. 11 and 12 for two conference contests. The Lady Bulldogs lost the first contest but picked up a win in the second.

First up was the Oct. 11 junior high A and varsity contest against a strong conference rival, the Mansfield Lady Tigers.

In the varsity matchup, the Lady Tigers gained the advantage during all three sets, overpowering the Lady Bulldogs, 25-13, 25-8 and 25-9, and taking the win in straight sets.

The next contest, Oct. 12 against the Northwest Arkansas Classical Academy Lady Spartans, yielded a completely different outcome.

The Lady Bulldogs easily overwhelmed the Lady Spartans in the first two sets, 25-14 and 25-7.

In the third set, NWA Classical fought back, tying the contest at 11 all before Lady Bulldog coach Cali Lankford call a time out. This time the 60-second break worked against the Lady Bulldogs and the Lady Spartans continued to keep pace. The match was tied at 22 all when three straight points gave the Decatur Lady Bulldogs varsity the final set, 25-22, and the conference win.

On the junior high A side, the Lady Bulldog team continued its winning streak by defeating first the Mansfield Lady Tigers, 25-13 and 25-27, and then the NWA Classical Academy Lady Spartans, 25-8, 25-16.

But both teams were not quite finished for the week, taking on the Gentry Lady Pioneers and the Lavaca Lady Golden Arrows. But that is another story.

Westside Eagle Observer/MIKE ECKELS Lady Bulldog Annabelle Bell tips the ball back over the net into Lady Spartan terretory during the Oct. 12 Decatur-Northwest Arkansas Classical Academy varsity volleyball match in Decatur. Bell's tip caught the Lady Spartans off guard, earning the Lady Bulldogs a point.
Westside Eagle Observer/MIKE ECKELS Lady Bulldog Annabelle Bell tips the ball back over the net into Lady Spartan terretory during the Oct. 12 Decatur-Northwest Arkansas Classical Academy varsity volleyball match in Decatur. Bell's tip caught the Lady Spartans off guard, earning the Lady Bulldogs a point.
Westside Eagle Observer/MIKE ECKELS Jenecis Batres (5) uses a one-handed pass to send the ball to the other side of the net during the Oct. 12 Decatur-NWA Classical Academy junior high volleyball contest in the gym at Decatur Middle School.
Westside Eagle Observer/MIKE ECKELS Jenecis Batres (5) uses a one-handed pass to send the ball to the other side of the net during the Oct. 12 Decatur-NWA Classical Academy junior high volleyball contest in the gym at Decatur Middle School.
Westside Eagle Observer/MIKE ECKELS Lilly Lee (22) uses a light touch to pass the ball over the net in hopes that the Lady Spartans' front line is caught off gaurd. The Decatur Lady Bulldogs played host to the NWA Classical Academy Lady Spartans at the Decatur Middle School gym Oct. 12.
Westside Eagle Observer/MIKE ECKELS Lilly Lee (22) uses a light touch to pass the ball over the net in hopes that the Lady Spartans' front line is caught off gaurd. The Decatur Lady Bulldogs played host to the NWA Classical Academy Lady Spartans at the Decatur Middle School gym Oct. 12.
Westside Eagle Observer/MIKE ECKELS Heaven McGarrah (center) puts a little extra power in her hit as she sends the ball into the backcourt during the second set of the Decatur-NWA Classical Academy junior high volleyball contest in Decatur Oct. 12. The ball bounced between two Lady Spartan players, resulting in a point for the Lady Bulldogs.
Westside Eagle Observer/MIKE ECKELS Heaven McGarrah (center) puts a little extra power in her hit as she sends the ball into the backcourt during the second set of the Decatur-NWA Classical Academy junior high volleyball contest in Decatur Oct. 12. The ball bounced between two Lady Spartan players, resulting in a point for the Lady Bulldogs.
Westside Eagle Observer/MIKE ECKELS Lady Bulldog Giselle Fuentes uses a forearm hit to return a ball back to the Lady Spartans during the Decatur-Northwest Arkansas Classical Academy conference volleyball game in Decatur Oct. 12. The Lady Bulldogs took the win in straight sets.
Westside Eagle Observer/MIKE ECKELS Lady Bulldog Giselle Fuentes uses a forearm hit to return a ball back to the Lady Spartans during the Decatur-Northwest Arkansas Classical Academy conference volleyball game in Decatur Oct. 12. The Lady Bulldogs took the win in straight sets.