Ninth Grade Lady Bison place third at Centerville Tournament

BHS freshman Kimberly Rendon hustles to return a volley. Van’Go’photo After finishing second in their pool on Thursday, the ninth grade Lady Bison won two out of three matches on Saturday to claim third place at the Centerville Tournament. The junior varsity came up short in the bracketformat tournament, losing to Fairfield in the consolation finals.

The ninth grade Lady Bison lost to Fairfield in three sets on Thursday before defeating Teague in straight sets. Fairfield also defeated Teague to win the second pool of the ninth grade division of the tournament.

On Saturday, the Lady Bison defeated Crockett 25-14, 25-14 to advance to the semi-finals. Ana Lopez troubled the Lady Bulldogs with thirteen service points, including four aces. Heather Humphries served for eight points and three aces. Chelsea Varner came through with five points and two aces. Kylen Armstrong served four points, and Raven Lott added two points.

Congratulations, 9th Grade Lady Bison Zelneisha Lockett, Courtney Dudley and Lopez led the team in offense. Hannah Wilson, Erin Trahan and Lott led the team defensively.

The Lady Bison fell to Centerville’s JV B team in the semi-finals, 13-25, 16- 25. The freshmen from Buffalo were a bit intimidated by Centerville’s size and struggled to get their own offense going in the match. Lott and Humphries served for four and three points, respectively. Lopez, Varner and Dudley all served two points each.

Buffalo and Teague met again for the third place match. The Lady Lions won the first set 15-25, but the Lady Bison rebounded for a 25-20, 25-16 victory. Lopez led the team with eleven service points and six aces, including eight in a row in set three. Dudley served for six points, while Lott and Varner served for four each. Armstrong added two points, and Humphries and Erin Trahan served for one each. Lott landed four kills in the match.

The junior varsity tournament was set up in a straight bracket format. Buffalo met up with Teague in the first round, and lost a heart breaker 18-25, 27-25, 24-26. The Lady Bison defeated North Zulch on Saturday 23-25, 25- 16, 25-20, but lost to Fairfield 23-25, 21-25 in the consolation finals.

Samantha Atkinson led the team in service points against North Zulch, including a six point run in the third set. Laken McCabe and Reagan Read each served for nine points. Tionna Adams and Kelsey Canady each served for four points, and Emily Grissett served for three.

Canady nailed four kills while Atkinson managed three plus a block for a point. Adams, playing her first matches on the front row this season, added two kills. Haley Ellison tacked down one.

Read led the team in serving in the Fairfield match, serving for eight points. Canady and Grissett each served for four points, and Adams added three. McCabe and Atkinson served for two and one points, respectively.

Fairfield’s defense was solid, but Buffalo was able to land a few kills. Atkinson, Grissett, Adams and Read each managed two kills apiece. Canady nailed one.

The sub varsity Lady Bison will wrap up their tournament season in Grapeland next Saturday.