DECATUR -- The three Decatur Lady Bulldogs volleyball teams had little time to relish their wins over the Lady Highlanders just two days earlier because it was back to the court to face the Fayetteville-based New School Lady Cougars at Peterson-Owens Fieldhouse in Decatur Thursday night. And as it was Sept. 5, all three teams had little trouble pulling off a trio of wins.
Head volleyball coach Desi Meek and assistant coach Mike Eckels worked on the lineups for all three teams and came up with the right combinations to bring a little excitement to Peterson-Owens.
The Decatur Junior High B took the court first. As it had in previous matches, the Lady Bulldog JHB took control of the first set and jumped out in front by four uncontested points. The fifth Decatur serve went into the net, giving the Lady Cougars the ball. Decatur JHB managed to pull ahead late in the contest and eventually claimed the first set.
And as before the JHB jumped out in front throughout the early going of set two. But the Lady Cougars powered back and took set two 25-21, forcing the contest into a 15-point tie breaker. The two teams battled back and fourth, with the Lady Bulldog JHB maintaining a slim lead. Eventually, the Decatur JHB reached 15 points first, taking the match two sets to one.
The junior high A team maintained control over its match, with the Lady Cougars taking its third straight win of the season in two sets over New School.
In the final contest of Thursday night, the Lady Bulldog varsity took the court to face the Lady Cougars in a best three out of five match. Coach Meek shifted a few players around in the first set, with Leslie Hernandez stepping up to the service line to open the first set. Hernandez managed to pull off eight straight serves before a hit into the net by a Decatur player ended her serving rally. The Lady Bulldogs went on to take the first as well as the second sets.
The third set was close until a series of serves by Daisy Fuentes allowed the Lady Bulldogs to pull away from the Lady Cougars for good, taking the final set and the match in straight sets.
The Decatur Lady Bulldog volleyball teams remain at home on Sept. 11 for a contest with Centerton-based Life Way Christian at Peterson -Owens Fieldhouse in Decatur for a 4:30 JHB start time. Decatur will take to the road on Sept. 12 with a three-game contest with the Ozark Catholic Academy Lady Griffins at the Arkansas Athlete Outreach facility in Rogers, and Sept. 14 in Mulberry for three contests with the Lady Yellowjackets. Go to decatursd.com for any updates to the volleyball schedule.
Onne Montano/Special to the Eagle Observer
Lady Bulldog Annabelle Bell (14) smashes the ball into the top of the net in an effort to get the ball out of reach of a pair of Lady Highlanders during the Eureka Springs-Decatur varsity match in Eureka Springs on Sept. 5. The ball had enough momentum from Bells hit to make it over the net past the two defenders for a Decatur point.
Onne Montano/Special to the Eagle Observer
Lady Bulldog Heaven McGarrah (3) smashes the ball over the outstretched arms of two Lady Highlanders during the Sept. 5 Eureka Springs-Decatur varsity matchup in Eureka Springs.