Bulldogs drop 3-1 match to Gaels

HAMPTON – Although it was a more inspired effort than their previous home match, the Bulldogs dropped a 3-1 North Central Conference contest against Fort Dodge St. Edmond in the Gaels’ first action in about two weeks.

Due to exposure to COVID-19, the match was postponed from its previous date of Thursday, Sept. 24, but St. Edmond didn’t look worse for wear in the 25-20, 20-25, 25-19, 25-17 win on Monday, Oct. 5.

“Our effort was better last night,” coach Sarah Miller said. “We had a lot of communication errors that should not have happened.”

Gina Schmitt had a season-high eight kills to go along with eight more for Kortney Dunt while Aja Sheppard added seven, but it wasn’t enough as the Bulldogs fell to 2-6 overall, 0-4 in the NCC.

Schmitt also was 15-of-15 serving with four aces against the Gaels, which improved to 4-2 overall, 1-2 NCC.

“I was very pleased with Gina,” Miller said. “She really stepped up for us last night. I was happy to see her building her confidence at the net and she had great serves for us.”

Sheppard tallied 23 of the team’s 33 assists and libero Addy Showalter contributed with a match-high 43 digs. Dunt added 32 more.

A slow start in the opener contributed to the Bulldogs’ troubles as the Gaels got on a run behind the serving of Kierstin Clark, who served up four aces in a row, forcing Miller to call timeout. Clark finished 16-of-18 serving with six aces.

All told, St. Edmond accumulated 14 ace serves against the Bulldogs, six of which came in the first set alone.

“We struggled with our serve reception last night,” Miller said. “They had serves that dropped short and we did not adjust when needed.”

During the second set in which the Bulldogs trailed early, and saw the Gaels tie it at 14 on a kill by Leah Neverman, only to start a serving run in which Schmitt had her team up for good in the second frame.

Neverman finished with a match-high 12 kills while Aleah Anderson added seven.

In the third set, the Bulldogs led 11-6 and as late as 12-11, but the Gaels got on a run, serving up a pair of aces by Kruthoff, forcing another timeout by Miller. But from there, Neverman scored on a free ball and a Bulldog net violation gave the Gaels enough separation to take the 2-1 lead.

The Bulldogs also had a 12-9 lead in the fourth and deciding set before another St. Edmond run that featured a Neverman kill and a kill and tip by Alyxis Mericle as well as another ace, this time by Aleah Anderson.

“We know what we need to work on,” Miller said. “It is important for these girls to understand that each point matters and to compete the entire set.”

Fort Dodge St. Edmond 25-20-25-25

Bulldogs 20-25-19-17

Kills– FDSE (Leah Neverman 12, Aleah Anderson 7, Alyxis Mericle 6, Kierstin Clark 6, Kasey Kruthoff 8, Emma Alstott 5, Mya McClain); H-D (Gina Schmitt 8, Kortney Dunt 8, Aja Sheppard 7, Jaelyn Hickman 4, Emma Aalbers 4, Elle Westhoff 2, Addy Showalter). Blocks– FDSE (Kruthoff 2, Neverman, Mericle); H-D (Westhoff). Assists– FDSE (Clark 37, McClain 3, Anderson, Kruthoff); H-D (Sheppard 23, Dunt 3, Showalter 2, Westhoff 2, Quinci Spradlin, Schmitt). Digs– FDSE (McClain 19, Kruthoff 12, Anderson 8, Clark 7, Neverman 5, Alstott 3, Mericle 2); H-D (Addy Showalter 43, Kortney Dunt 32, Spradlin 19, Hickman 16, Schmitt 11, Keely Craighton 10, Westhoff 10, Sheppard 9, Alana Johnson 9, Aalbers 8). Serving– FDSE (McClain 12-12; Anderson 23-24, 6 aces; Mericle 14-16, 3 aces; Clark 16-18, 6 aces; Kruthoff 11-11, 3 aces); H-D (Schmitt 15-15, 4 aces; Sheppard 14-14, ace; Dunt 12-12; Westhoff 11-11; Hickman 9-9, 2 aces; Aalbers 9-9, 2 aces; Showalter 11-12).