Friday, Nov 15, 2024 10:05 AMUpdated Friday, Nov. 15, 2024 10:06 AM
Dove Creek senior Taylor Barry (8) hammers a firm kill shot from just inside the antenna during DCHS' Class 1A State Championships-opening match Thursday afternoon, Nov. 14, versus Cheraw. Dove Creek rallied from two sets down and pulled out a 24-26, 24-26, 25-14, 25-18, 15-11 victory. Joel Priest/Special to The Journal
Bulldogs knock off Cheraw, fall to Idalia
DENVER – The Bulldogs are no stranger to lengthy stays in Denver.
In each of their last three visits, Dove Creek made their presence known in the 1A bracket with at least four matches, and two runs to the final day of the tournament.
Dove Creek head coach Erin Barry had plenty of reason to smile after the Lady Bulldogs rallied from two sets down and pulled out a 24-26, 24-26, 25-14, 25-18, 15-11 victory Thursday afternoon, November 14, over Cheraw during Class 1A State Championships-opening action. Joel Priest/Special to The Journal
Watched by teammate Jenessa Barragan (14) as well as Cheraw's Delaney Bond (6), Dove Creek senior Hannah Barry (22) bump-sets the ball away from the net during DCHS' Class 1A State Championships-opening match Thursday afternoon, November 14. Dove Creek rallied from two sets down and pulled out a 24-26, 24-26, 25-14, 25-18, 15-11 victory. Joel Priest/Special to The Journal
Dove Creek senior Aspen Nye (21) blocks Cheraw's Lili Ontai (14) during Class 1A State Championships-opening action Thursday afternoon, November 14. DCHS rallied from two sets down and pulled out a 24-26, 24-26, 25-14, 25-18, 15-11 victory. Joel Priest/Special to The Journal
Watched by Cheraw's Braislea Groves (3), Dove Creek senior Hannah Barry (22) attempts a reverse bump-set during Class 1A State Championships-opening action Thursday afternoon, November 14. DCHS rallied from two sets down and pulled out a 24-26, 24-26, 25-14, 25-18, 15-11 victory. Joel Priest/Special to The Journal
Dove Creek senior Ralynn Hickman (10) rejects the shot of Cheraw's Delaney Bond (6) during Class 1A State Championships-opening action Thursday afternoon, November 14. DCHS rallied from two sets down and pulled out a 24-26, 24-26, 25-14, 25-18, 15-11 victory. Joel Priest/Special to The Journal
Dove Creek junior Allex Williams serves during the Class 1A State Championships' final first-day match Thursday night, Nov. 14, inside the Denver Coliseum. DCHS lost in five sets to Idalia.Joel Priest/Special to The Journal
Dove Creek senior Hannah Barry (22) concentrates on setting to either senior Taylor Barry (8) or senior Aspen Nye (21) during the Class 1A State Championships' final first-day match Thursday night, November 14, inside the Denver Coliseum. DCHS unfortunately lost in five sets to Idalia.Joel Priest/Special to The Journal
Dove Creek senior Taylor Barry (8) tries spiking a shot over Idalia junior Tatum Soehner (10) during the Class 1A State Championships' final first-day match Thursday night, November 14, inside the Denver Coliseum. DCHS unfortunately lost in five sets.Joel Priest/Special to The Journal
Dove Creek senior Hannah Barry (22) times her block perfectly to deny Idalia senior Addyson Juhnke (7) during the Class 1A State Championships' final first-day match Thursday night, Nov. 14, inside the Denver Coliseum. DCHS unfortunately lost in five sets.Joel Priest/Special to The Journal
They can add another marathon trip to the list – and that’s just after the opening day. Dove Creek played ten sets on Thursday afternoon and evening, completing a thrilling reverse sweep of No. 10 Cheraw to open the day, before falling 15-13 in the decisive fifth set against No. 2 Idalia.
Dove Creek rallied after losing their first two sets of the tournament to the Bears by identical 26-24 margins. From there, head coach Erin Barry’s squad flipped a switch, blasting Cheraw in the third and fourth sets by 25-14 and 25-18 scorelines. The momentum continued into the final stanza, where DC collected a 15-11 win to earn their spot in the second round.
Advancing to play Idalia, the Bulldogs took to the floor looking to climb to within one match of the state semifinals. Dove Creek sustained their energy from their rally against Cheraw, winning the opening set against the Wolves 25-21. However, Idalia overcame a five-point deficit in the second set to even the match with a 25-19 victory.
DC built another large lead in the third set, and made it stand with a 25-21 win, but Idalia took the fourth set 25-14 to set up the dramatic conclusion. After the Wolves jumped out to leads of 3-0 and 10-7, Dove Creek equalized on both occasions, but with the match tied at 13, the Wolves came up with two powerful kills to close out the match.
Dove Creek will head into the Contenders bracket, where they will face No. 8 Hi-Plains at 11 a.m. on Friday from the Coliseum. A win would keep their season alive, and advance the ‘Dogs to play either No. 6 Stratton or No. 12 Weldon Valley later that evening.
