Lady Bulldogs lose at home, win on road
DECATUR — Week three of the varsity volleyball season got off to a slow start for the Decatur Lady Bulldogs as they met a new conference opponent at Peterson Gym in Decatur on Sept. 4. But a win later in the week on the road put the team back on the right track.
This contest marked the first meeting between the Decatur Lady Bulldogs and the Hackett Lady Hornets in volleyball since the conference realignment from the 4A to the 2A. Decatur and Hackett have squared off against each other in football, basketball and baseball in the past but never in volleyball.
The Lady Hornets quickly established their dominance over the struggling Lady Bulldogs. Miscommunication and simple concentration errors plagued Decatur throughout the match. These simple mistakes resulted in the Lady Bulldogs scoring the fewest points in a match since the start of the season in August.
The Hackett Hornets took the match in three straight sets, 25-7, 25-3 and 25-11.
Afterward, Decatur Coach Tajhe Turner met with her team in the locker room to discuss the team’s play. The 29-minute session yielded positive results for Turner and the Lady Bulldogs as they prepared for an away match with the Mulberry Lady Yellowjackets Thursday.
The Lady Bulldogs were more focused during the Mulberry match, winning the first set in a head-tohead fight, 26-24. Decatur continued to dominate the Lady Yellowjackets throughout the remaining two sets, claiming victory, 25-22 and 25-11, taking its third victory of the season in three straight sets. The Lady Bulldogs finish week three with an overall record of 3-3 and a conference record of 3-2.
Decatur was at home Sept. 11 for a 4:30 p.m. match with the Lavaca Lady Golden Arrows at Peterson Gym. The Lady Bulldogs will be on the road to Eureka Springs on Sept. 13 for a 4:30 p.m. match with the Lady Highlanders.