Lady Bulldogs finish 2nd at tournament
By Kathy Thomson
The Lady Bulldogs won three of four games last week, beating Rotan last Tuesday and hitting the court again to claim second place at the Gorman tournament on Saturday.
The Moran team hosted Rotan in the regular season match-up on Tuesday, Aug. 20, defeating the Lady Yellowhammers in five sets 26-25, 20-25, 25-6, 12-25, and 15-4.
“Every girl got the chance to play at least two sets in the Rotan game,” said coach Jo Hise.
Rotan claimed an early lead in the first game on Tuesday, but Reshaley Schafer and Jaylynn Roberts both made five points in a row, allowing Moran to win the set.
“They never dropped their heads when Rotan pulled ahead,” said Hise. “They fought until the last whistle blew.”
In the second set Emily Murk had four back-to-back serves; November Meredith served eight consecutive points in the third game.
“In the fourth set Tiffany Wade had five consecutive serves,” said Hise. “In the last set Dariann Hawley served nine consecutive points, four of them aces. The girls played with heart.”
Tournament Play
The girls’ first match at the Gorman Spikefest Tournament was against Hamilton JV on Thursday, Aug. 22. Moran won in straight sets 25-11, 25-22.
Tournament play for the Lady Bulldogs continued on Saturday morning, with Moran taking on Rochelle.
“We beat them 25-19, 16-25, and 25-16,” said Hise. “We were down two starting players, but the team made every adjustment in the lineup I gave them, and were successful in the end.”
The coach commended Johnnie Hise for serving eight consecutive times in the third set, assisting the team in making it to the championship round on Saturday afternoon.
“We played Gustine, and played hard, but it just didn’t fall our way,” said the coach. “We lost in two games, 20-25 and 16-25.”
Johnnie Hise was named to the All-tournament team.
“I am super proud of how far the girls have come,” said coach Hise. “I couldn’t ask for a harder working group of ladies. They are ready to play and fight until the last whistle.”
Moran is scheduled to play in the Strawn tournament this Thursday through Saturday, Aug. 29-31.
The girls have a final pre-district match on Tuesday, Sept. 10 in Moran, before starting district play at home against Ranger at 10:00 a.m. on Sept. 14.
Junior High Ladies
The junior high volleyball team began workouts this week, and on Monday coach Hise said that she was expecting about 13 girls on the team.
The first match for the middle school girls is set for Tuesday, Sept. 17 at 5:00 p.m. in Strawn.
