Lady Dogs Place Fifth at Gove County Classic

The Golden Plains High School Lady Bulldog Volleyball team placed fifth at the Gove County Classic in Grinnell on September 12. The girls went 0-3 in pool play with losses to Quinter, Decatur Co., and Weskan, finishing with wins over St. Francis and Rawlins Co. in the consolation bracket.

“I feel like we started off not in our best mind set,” said Ellie Romero. “Those first three games we were trying to find our groove. We pulled it together in the last two games and gained our confidence. We had fun and refused to lose.”

The girls played a strong first set against Quinter to start the tournament. They fell behind early with several service errors but fought their way back to tie it up at 17 and gain a 3 point lead. Keeping it close, Quinter came back for the 23-25 win. The Dogs just couldn’t gain any ground in the second set despite kills from Lakin Wark and Jade Dible and blocks from Brenlynn Rath. Quinter claimed the match 10-25.

ACE serves were made by Kadalen Unrein 2, Brenlynn Rath 1, and Katie Carter 1. Unrein had 5 kills, Lakin Wark 4, Rath 2, and Jade Dible and Wark had 6 assists, Unrein 4, and Rath 1. Rath led the Dogs with 6 digs, Elizabeth Romero 5, Wark 5, Cater 3, Estella Vargas 3, Unrein 1, Dible 1, and Molly Ritter 1. Rath also had 2 solo blocks.

The second match of the day was against the Decatur Co. Red Devils. The Red Devils took a first set win 14-25. The Dogs kept it a little closer in the second set but couldn’t upset the Red Devils as the Devils won the match 18-25.

Unrein had 2 ACE serves and Rath 1. Rath had 4 kills, Wark 3, and Dible 3. Unrein had 7 assists and Wark 3. Digs were made by Rath 9, Unrein 8, Wark 6, Romero 5, Kaylee Kier 5, Carter 4, Dible 2, and Vargas 1.

The third match in pool play was against the Weskan Lady Coyotes. The Dogs took the lead early in the first set and held on to win 25-17. The Dogs led for much of the second set but rotation errors cost them, and the Coyotes pulled ahead for the win 20-25. The third set started with a Bulldog lead, but the Coyotes went on a 10-point run to pull ahead 15-7. The Dogs fought back and a server run by Lakin Wark helped close the gap to within 2. Several time outs were called but the Coyotes held on to win the set and the match 23-25.

Wark, Rath, and Carter each had 3 ACE serves along with 1 from Unrein. Rath had 20 kills, Wark 11, Unrein 5, Dible 3, Carter 1, and Vargas 1. Unrein and Wark each had 17 assists, Vargas 3, Kier 2, and Romero 1. Digs were made by Wark 13, Rath 12, Carter 8, Romero 8, Kier 6, Unrein 6, Dible 2, and Vargas 2. Unrein also had a solo block.

The semi-final game in the consolation bracket was against the St. Francis Lady Indians. The Bulldogs got off to a fast start and led the Indians throughout the entire set for the 25-15 win. The Indians fought their way to a 22-25 win in the second set but the Lady Bulldogs were determined to get a win. They fell behind in the third set and had to work their way to tie it up at 12. The Dogs then claimed the lead and held on for the 25-18 win. Carter had 6 ACE serves, Wark 3, Unrein 3, and Romero 1. Rath had 12 kills, Unrein 6, Wark 3, Dible 2, and Makynslee Vargas 1. Assists were made by Wark 9, Unrein 8, Rath 5, Estella Vargas 1, and Dible 1. Digs were dug up by Rath 14, Romero 13, E. Vargas 10, Carter 9, Unrein 8, Wark 3, and Dible 2.

The final game of the tournament was against the Rawlins County Lady Buffaloes. Senior Kadalen Unrein demonstrated senior leadership as she led the team to a 25-20 first set win. The Buffaloes held a lead for much of the second set before the Bulldogs tied the game up at 17. The Dogs pulled ahead but the Buffaloes stayed in the game keeping it close. The Dogs took over to win the set and the match 25-22 placing fifth in the tournament.

Wark and Rath each had 2 ACE serves along with 1 each from Carter and M. Vargas. Rath slammed down 8 kills, Unrein 6, Wark 4, Carter 1, and E. Vargas 1. Assists were given by Wark 13, Unrein 6, Rath 1, and Carter 1. Digs were made by Rath 7, Wark 6, Romero 6, Carter 6, E. Vargas 3, Dible 2, Unrein 1, and M. Vargas 1.

“We played pretty hard,” said senior Estella Vargas. “I’m proud of how we kept our energy up, especially in the three set matches. We definitely had a rough start, but we stuck together as a team regardless of the outcome. Although we did not play well in pool play, we executed what we discussed in bracket play. I’m proud of the younger girls for stepping up and playing well.”

The Lady Bulldogs will be back on the road as they travel to Almena on September 15 to play Northern Valley and Victoria.