When the Dove Creek Bulldogs volleyball team played the Dolores Bears earlier this season, the match turned out to be a nail-biter. Rest assured, no nails were chewed the second time around.
Playing in Dolores on Tuesday, Oct. 1, the Dove Creek Bulldogs looked unbeatable, blowing away the hometown Bears in three sets, 27-25, 25-18, 25-19.
Looking to dictate play in the early going, the Bulldogs won the match’s first point on a spike by senior Shelbie Knuckles and later stretched their lead to 7-1 on a tip by senior Corissa Guynes.
After the Bears battled back to tie the set at twelve, things hung in the balance until the Bulldogs pulled away, using an ace by Corissa Guynes and a spike by Shelbie Knuckles to break a 25-25 tie and win the set 27-25.
“The first set was a good set for later on at regionals and state,” said Bulldogs’ head coach Scott Knuckles. “We need (sets like) that to see what kind of character we have and how far we are able to dig down.”
Hoping to make things a little less tight in the second, the Bulldogs initially fell behind 6-0 before battling back to take a 17-12 lead on an ace by Jessica Guynes.
Although the Bears did their best to hang tough, the Bulldogs attack proved to be too much as Dove Creek locked up the first set 25-18 on a kill by senior Madison Young.
“We were working together like a team like we always have,” said Bulldogs senior Jennifer Fury. “Our passes, our sets and our hits were just really good.”
Aiming to close things out in the third set, the Bulldogs started fast, jumping out to an 11-6 lead after a block by Corissa Guynes.
Although the Bears would eventually narrow the gap to 17-15, the Bulldogs would again pull away, winning the third set 25-19 on a kill by Shelbie Knuckles.
Leading the Bulldogs in kills and digs was Shelbie Knuckles, with 18 and 15 respectively.
Fury and Ana Young tied for the team lead in aces with two, while the super-setter Young recorded 26 assists.
“It’s really fun,” said Young, describing how much she enjoys setting. “I don’t always get all the glory, but I like to be able to be the one that sets up my teammates for good hits.”
With their season record now at 14-0, the Bulldogs will enjoy a brief respite before returning to action on the road against Mancos, Friday, Oct. 4.
imaclaren@cortezjournal.com
