Busy week for the Lady Bison

Plenty of hustle characterizes the young Lady Bison varsity team. Van’Go’photo There was plenty of volleyball action last week as the Lady Bison hosted their season opener on Tuesday and participated in the Fair- field Tournament later in the week.

FRANKSTON The Lady Bison faced their first opponent of the season, Frankston, in Buffalo on Wednesday afternoon. The Maidens brought only Var- and JV teams, so the youngest BHS team had to sit this one out.

The Varsity girls played a best three-out-of-five match.

In Game 1, TiOnna Adams got the Lady Bison off to a good start, serving three quick points for an early lead. FHS tied the game at 5-5 and again at 12-12, before Kelsey Canady landed several kills shots and Emily Grissett contributed a block that sparked the Lady Bison to a 25-17 win.

Game 2 started well for BHS with Lindsey McGill serving to a 4-0 lead, but Lady Bison errors let momentum swing to the Maidens’ court. The game was tied several times, but FHS took the win, 20-25.

The youngest Lady Bison, posing with Coach Julie Bowman, took home the freshman Championship plaque at the FairfieldVolleyball Tournament. Van’Go’photo Buffalo trailed throughout Game 3 and lost, 18-25. Game 4 was a battle, with many points earned only after long, tough volleys. Tied at 12-12, the Maidens put together a strong run to lead by eight, 15-23. Buffalo refused to give in and closed the gap, but finally dropped the game, 21-25, losing the match 1-3.

Canady led her teammates with 12 kills and 4 aces. Samantha Adkinson had 9 kills, 7 blocks and 4 aces. Reagan Read contributed 6 kills, Raven Lott and newcomer Kayla Ward added 4 each. McGill was tough at the libero position, pulled out 19 digs.

Buffalo’s junior varsity team dominated the JV Maidens, taking the best two-outof three match in two games, 25-14, 25-16.

The JV Lady Bison in action vs Frankston. Van FAIRFIELD TOURNEY

ACTION The Lady Bison battled in the Fairfield Tournament on Thursday and Friday, gaining valuable experience for the upcoming season. The varsity team was not able to generate any wins, but the JV came away with the Consolation plaque in their division and the freshmen girls finished on top in theirs.

VARSITY - On Friday morning, the Young Lady Bison came up against a buzzsaw, China Springs, and fell hard, 6-25 and 10-25. They bounced back against Diboll. Coach Daryl Skelton stated that the girls were hustling, moving well and swinging well, and split that match 16- 25, 25-22 before dropping Game 3, 8-25. Tionna Adams and Raven Lott had good service runs in the 2nd game.

JV - The JV Lady Bison lost their first game to Anderson Shiro in two, 14-25 and 16-25. They then beat Huntsville’s Alpha-Omega School in a three-game match, led by Alex Jenkins with 23 service points. In the Consolation bracket final they faced Crockett, and Coach Jozette Jenkins pointed out, “The Consolation plaque was on the line and that gave them the fireto win.” Opening with a 25-17 victory, the Lady BIson slipped in Game 2 and lost 10- 25 to let the Lady Bulldogs back in the match. In Game 3 Laken McCable led in service points, Courtney Dudley played well on the front row and Hannah ___ was getting good digs as BHS pulled together for the win and took home the hardware.

FRESHMEN - The youngest Lady Bison opened with Anderson-Shiro on Thursday morning in a match that went to three games. BHS came out on top 25-11, 19-25 and 25-17. The afternoon brought China Springs and the girl’s toughest challenge. The first game saw the Lady Bison trailing by 5 at game point, 19-24, but Katie Glick stepped up and served seven straight points for the 26-24 win. China Springs took the second game 19-25 to force the tie-breaker, and BHS won that one handily, 25-12. On Friday the girls handled Diboll in two quick wins, 25-9 and 25-15, with Hailey Laningham and Glick each serving 10 in a row. That brought them up against the host Lady Eagles in the division championship, and Buffalo again won handily in two, 25-20 and 25-7, with Hannah Laningham leading the charge with 11 service points in a row. Coach Julie Bowman summed up, “We took care of business. Everyone is starting to move, and getting good as a team -- and the serving really helped us out today.”

This week the Lady Bison host Oakwood on Tuesday and the Varsity girls will play in the Leon Tournament beginning on Friday.