Lady Bulldogs open with win

By Sam Waller

The Moran Lady Bulldogs opened their volleyball season Tuesday with a 3-1 victory on the road against Loraine.

Moran pulled away to win 25-20, 19-25, 25-20, 25-16.

“We played pretty well for the first game of the season,” Lady Bulldogs coach Joe Hise said. “We got up and stayed mentally strong through the third and fourth sets.”

Hise lauded the team’s mental approach in closing out the match after splitting the first two sets.

“They stayed up and were loud,” she said. “They stayed mentally high and were very scrappy.” 

The coach was happy with the way the team started off the season.

Hise credited middle blockers Harmony Slaughter and Emily Murk with providing an intimidating presence at the net in the victory.

Moran is scheduled to compete in the Albany Summer Slam Tournament beginning today. The Lady Bulldogs are playing in Pool B against Breckenridge and Abilene Christian.

Hise said the prospect of playing five or six matches over three days will help her team’s development.

“It helps us get used to a new rotation,” she said. “We’ve got a completely new system we’re having to work out. “

The tournament will also provide valuable experience for newer players, Hise said.

“I’ve got a junior who’s brand new to the sport,” Hise said. “The more time she can get on the court, the more comfortable she’ll feel. And I’ve got a sophomore who didn’t get to play a lot last year. They were both very beneficial against Loraine.”

Football Details

The Moran Bulldogs capped their first week of the preseason Friday with a Midnight Madness practice and now turn their attention to preparing for their first scrimmage.

Bulldogs coach John Hughes instituted the midnight practice last year.

“It’s nice and cool,” he said. “We actually had a lot of people come out and watch us.”

Hughes said that the players enjoy the night practices, too.

“The kids have blast doing it,” said the coach. “It’s beneficial in a bunch of different ways.”

The Bulldogs will scrimmage Trent at 10:00 a.m. Saturday at Bulldog Field.

“We’re just trying to get a little better,” Hughes said. “We want to get these six guys in some semi-good shape. More than likely, we’re going to run six or seven all year long, so we’re going to have to be in really good shape.”