Lady Highlanders keep Lady Bulldogs on toes

DECATUR — After losing to the Mansfield Lady Tigers two days earlier, the Decatur Lady Bulldogs pulled off a little miracle as the team played host to longtime rival, the Eureka Springs Lady Highlanders, in the middle school gym in Decatur Thursday night. But poor concentration and simple technical errors nearly cost Decatur two sets as the team struggled to pull off the win in straight sets.

Decatur opened its 2020 volleyball season with a road trip to Eureka Springs Aug. 25. The Lady Bulldogs won that match in three straight sets, posting the first win of the season for Decatur.

However, in this contest, Eureka, playing with only one spare player, gave Decatur a run for its money in the second and third sets.

In set one, Decatur took control of the contest quickly, amassing 10 straight points before Eureka was finally able to put a point on the scoreboard. The Lady Bulldogs made quick work of the Lady Highlanders, winning the set 25-9.

Suddenly the momentum of the match switched in favor of the Lady Highlanders as they put up three straight points for a 3-0 lead over a bewildered Decatur team. However, the Lady Bulldogs began sending point after point past the Eureka team and eventually tied the set at 4 all. The lead bounced back and forth three times until the Lady Highlanders picked up the momentum once again and began pulling ahead of the Lady Bulldogs by four.

A timeout by Decatur coach Cali Langsford put an end to the Lady Highlanders’ scoring streak with the game tied at 17 all. Decatur pulled ahead for good, taking set two, 25-20.

As it did in set two, the momentum of the contest switched back to the Lady Highlanders as they put up seven straight points to Decatur’s one for a 7-1 early lead. Another Langsford timeout put an end to Eureka’s scoring streak as the Lady Bulldogs played catchup and eventually pulled ahead.

But suddenly, Decatur went cold, which allowed the Lady Highlanders to get back into the match, tying the Lady Bulldogs at 20 all. Decatur pulled ahead, 22-20, but the Lady Highlanders came right back and tied Decatur once again. This was the Eureka Springs Lady Highlanders’ final chance to take the set but the Decatur Lady Bulldogs managed three straight points to win set three, 25-22, and the match, 3-0.

The Decatur junior high girls made quick work in a match played before the varsity contest, taking it in straight sets, 25-8 and 25-15.

Westside Eagle Observer/MIKE ECKELS Lady Bulldog Lilly Lee manages to catch a low ball with her right fist, sending it back over the net and into Lady Highlander territory Thursday during the Decatur-Eureka Springs conference matchup at the middle school gym in Decatur.

Westside Eagle Observer/MIKE ECKELS Aaliyah Kumbera (5) uses a forearm pass to send the ball back over the net past several Lady Highlander players, resulting in a point for the Lady Bulldogs on Thursday during the Decatur-Eureka Springs varsity volleyball contest in Decatur.