Lady Leopards, Lady Warriors chew up Lady Bulldogs

DECATUR — Coming off a two-game losing streak in week four of the 2019 volleyball season, the Decatur Lady Bulldogs returned home Sept. 23 and 24 with aspirations of turning things around with a pair of victories. But it was not to be for the Lady Bulldogs. They lost both contests in straight sets.

First up was the Sept. 23 nonconference match with the Life Way Lady Warriors from Centerton. Decatur kept the sets close, with the third and final set coming to a 23-all tie. But two straight points gave the Lady Warriors the victory in three sets, 25-20, 25-17, and 25-23, and extended the Lady Bulldogs’ losing streak to three.

In the Sept. 24 contest, the Decatur Lady Bulldogs faced a conference rival, the Alpena Lady Leopards, in a fight for third place in the 2A West.

Decatur confidence began to falter as the Lady Leopards pounded them early in set one, building a 10-point lead. But the Lady Bulldogs hit a run that closed the gap to two late in the set. Two points later Alpena earned the first set, 25-21.

The Lady Bulldogs once again found themselves with a significant deficit in set two, being behind by 10 when the Lady Leopards hit setpoint, 25-15.

Decatur came close in set three, hitting a pair of runs that brought them to a tie with Alpena at 22. But the Alpena Lady Leopards hit three straight points to win set three, 25-22, and claim the match in three sets, extending Decatur’s losing streak to five straight matches.

But the Lady Bulldogs’ luck changed during their match with longtime school rival Eureka Springs Lady Highlanders on Thursday.

Westside Eagle Observer/MIKE ECKELS After running from her position at midcourt, Lady Bulldog Lilly Lee manages to pass the ball over her head to a teammate during the Decatur-Alpena conference volleyball match in the Decatur Middle School gym Sept. 24.