Lady Bulldog JV Defeats Van Buren

By Terry Futrell

There was much jubilation as the Wartburg Central Lady Bulldog junior varsity closed out a volleyball match with Van Buren County Eaglettes with a 2-0 victory on Tuesday. It was not a perfect match – after all, these young ladies are still developing their skills at the junior varsity level. But it was a competitive, thrilling match that kept fans on the edge of their seats until the very end. To defeat Van Buren County, one of the premier volleyball programs in District 3A, brought much satisfaction to the young Lady Bullpups.

Wartburg led off by taking a 5-2 lead in the first set, only to see Van Buren tie the set at 7-7. The Lady Bulldogs again pulled out to a 12-8 lead, but Van Buren closed the gap and tied the set at 12-12. Van Buren pulled ahead to an 18-16 lead, but Wartburg fought back to tie the score at 18-18. The teams traded points, again tying the score four more times – the last tie at 24-24. Lady Bulldog Morgan Beard stepped up to serve two consecutive points, giving Wartburg a 26-24 win in the set.

The Lady Bulldogs stepped out in front in the second set 5-4. Van Buren’s Ellie Wall then served five consecutive aces to put the Eaglettes ahead 9-5. Van Buren built their lead to 12-6 before the Lady Bulldogs mounted a comeback.

Wartburg slowly ate away the Van Buren lead and tied the set at 15-15. Once again, Van Buren pulled ahead 19-15. Lady Bulldog Bailey Walker stepped up to serve with Wartburg trailing 19-17 and served two aces to tie the set 19-19.

Van Buren pulled ahead 22-19, but the Lady Bulldogs kept clawing back and tied the score at 24-24, then again at 25-25. Wartburg pulled ahead at 26-25 when Savannah Tinch served the final point giving the Lady Bulldogs a 27-25 win in the set and a 2-0 match victory.

The jubilation of the young Lady Bulldogs was somewhat akin to winning the upcoming Barkley Fall Classic to be held at Frozen Head this weekend. Victory was indeed sweet!

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