Lady Pioneers take non-conference win over Lady Bulldogs in close match

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

by Michael Eckels

Westside Eagle Observer/MIKE ECKELS Lady Pioneer Afton Finnell (03) manages to intercept a ball hit just outside the sideline, putting it back into play during the Gentry-Decatur varsity volleyball match in Gentry Oct. 13. Finnell's effort paid off as her teammate was able to pass it back in the Decatur backcourt for a point.
Westside Eagle Observer/MIKE ECKELS Lady Pioneer Afton Finnell (03) manages to intercept a ball hit just outside the sideline, putting it back into play during the Gentry-Decatur varsity volleyball match in Gentry Oct. 13. Finnell's effort paid off as her teammate was able to pass it back in the Decatur backcourt for a point.

GENTRY -- In a makeup match from Sept. 17, the Decatur Lady Bulldog varsity, junior high A and junior high B volleyball teams made the short hop to Gentry to take on the Lady Pioneers in a non-conference matchup. In the end, Gentry's varsity team picked up a win but Decatur's junior high teams beat Gentry, 2-0.

The Lady Bulldog varsity team took control of the first set early, putting up several straight points before the Lady Pioneers finally chalked up a point. Soon, though, Gentry fought back and took the lead for the first time. From this point, both teams played several long volleys before the game was tied at 23 all. A miss-directed hit by Decatur put Gentry ahead by one. The Lady Pioneers finished off the set with the final point, giving Gentry the first set, 25-23.

In the second set, the Lady Pioneers gained the advantage in the latter stages to fly past the Lady Bulldogs, 25-18.

The third set was a mirror image of the first, with several long volleys between the two teams and the lead changing hands several times. Decatur surged ahead by two, then Gentry pickup four straight points to take the lead once again. When the set was tied at 23 all once again, it was Decatur that put a pair of shots past Gentry for the third set win, 25-23.

The fourth and final set went to the Gentry Lady Pioneers in the same fashion as Sets 1 and 3, this time taking the set 25-23 over the Decatur Lady Bulldogs for the match.

Decatur's junior high A team, after a loss to Lavaca the day before, rebounded and took the win in two sets, the last of which was 26-24. The junior high B team also won its match 25-22, 25-18 over the junior high B Lady Pioneers.

The Lady Pioneer varsity team also fell at home to the Lady Tigers on Thursday, 3-0.

Westside Eagle Observer/MIKE ECKELS A Lady Pioneer powers the ball over the net and into Lady Bulldog country during the Oct. 13 Gentry-Decatur varsity volleyball match at Pioneer Gym in Gentry.
Westside Eagle Observer/MIKE ECKELS A Lady Pioneer powers the ball over the net and into Lady Bulldog country during the Oct. 13 Gentry-Decatur varsity volleyball match at Pioneer Gym in Gentry.
Westside Eagle Observer/MIKE ECKELS Lady Bulldog Brooklyn Todd powers the ball over the net and into the backcourt during the Gentry-Decatur volleyball match at Pioneer Gym in Gentry Oct. 13. The Lady Pioneers claimed the victory three sets to one over the Lady Bulldogs.
Westside Eagle Observer/MIKE ECKELS Lady Bulldog Brooklyn Todd powers the ball over the net and into the backcourt during the Gentry-Decatur volleyball match at Pioneer Gym in Gentry Oct. 13. The Lady Pioneers claimed the victory three sets to one over the Lady Bulldogs.
Westside Eagle Observer/MIKE ECKELS Reese Hester (Gentry 2) tries to tip the ball over the net into the front court but her attempt is foiled by Annabelle Bell (upper right) who knocks it back into Gentry territory during the Gentry-Decatur volleyball match in Gentry Oct. 13. The Lady Bulldogs earned the point which helped the team win the third set.
Westside Eagle Observer/MIKE ECKELS Reese Hester (Gentry 2) tries to tip the ball over the net into the front court but her attempt is foiled by Annabelle Bell (upper right) who knocks it back into Gentry territory during the Gentry-Decatur volleyball match in Gentry Oct. 13. The Lady Bulldogs earned the point which helped the team win the third set.
Westside Eagle Observer/MIKE ECKELS Lady Bulldog Aaliyah Kumbera (3) uses a light touch to send the ball into Lady Pioneer territory, hoping it drops in an unguarded area on the court. Decatur traveled to Gentry Oct. 13 for a makeup match on Sept. 17 which had to be cancelled due to covid-19 concerns.
Westside Eagle Observer/MIKE ECKELS Lady Bulldog Aaliyah Kumbera (3) uses a light touch to send the ball into Lady Pioneer territory, hoping it drops in an unguarded area on the court. Decatur traveled to Gentry Oct. 13 for a makeup match on Sept. 17 which had to be cancelled due to covid-19 concerns.
Westside Eagle Observer/MIKE ECKELS Reese Hester (Gentry 2) tips the ball toward Jackie Mendoza (left) during the first set of the Gentry-Decatur varsity volleyball match at Pioneer Gym in Gentry Oct. 13. The Lady Pioneers defeated the Lady Bulldogs three sets to one.
Westside Eagle Observer/MIKE ECKELS Reese Hester (Gentry 2) tips the ball toward Jackie Mendoza (left) during the first set of the Gentry-Decatur varsity volleyball match at Pioneer Gym in Gentry Oct. 13. The Lady Pioneers defeated the Lady Bulldogs three sets to one.