Bulldogs sweep West Fork to open 2020 season

SHEFFIELD – Near tears talking about her very first coaching victory, Bulldog head coach Sarah Miller tried to convey how happy she was with her team.

The Bulldogs came back from a seven-point deficit in the opening set and also trailed 22-21 in the third but rallied to take a 25-21, 25-18, 25-21 sweep over West Fork in the annual Franklin County rivalry match.

“You know these girls came out and we have been working so hard in practice,” Miller said. “I’m actually really emotional right now because I am so darn proud of them. They could have come out in game one and they were behind and could have been done.

“But they fought and they worked together and they were communicating to one other. They let each other know what was open, how many hitters, they just truly played as a team tonight and I’m so proud of them.”

In a match-up of first-year coaches with some young players, it was hard to know what to expect and as always, this match was far from an easy sweep for the Bulldogs.

While trailing early, the Bulldogs rode the serve of Kortney Dunt, who got them back in the set. Tied at 21, the visitors reeled off the last four points to take the first, setting of a big celebration.

Both Miller and West Fork coach Hannah Vaughan pointed to serve receive in the swing of that first match.

“That was with our serve receive,” Vaughan said of the momentum swing. “They had to pick up those balls. Hampton had a great server, we have some great servers, too, but we had to pick them up, which they did and we got it back and got a run going again, so just focusing on serve receive and getting those balls up.”

Miller added, “It was our serve receive which was hurting us at that point (when we were down). It was nerves. It was our first match, with the unknown with what we had this Summer and what tonight was going to look like, but they truly came together, I made a few switches and they did what needed to be done and they were all supportive of one another.

“I think they truly understand that every point, any of them can have different roles and they are owning up to that role. So amazing to see.”

Taking a 12-5 lead in the third set, the Warhawks worked their way back into the set following a Vaughan timeout, forcing Miller to also call time at 13-10 before the home squad took a 22-21. Just like the first set, the Bulldogs then reeled off the final four points to claim the match.

Serving, of course, was the key.

“Truly, everyone as a team played amazing, but Kortney Dunt, her serving was on tonight,” Miller said. “I did not want to be on the receiving end of that serve. So, I’m so proud of her.

“I really feel like they did (serve well). I gave my girls the serves, some I just let go, because I want that hard serve and they did an amazing job of hitting those spots and finding the weakness. Kudos to West Fork, they came out too and were competing and it was a pleasure to play. It was really fun.”

Vaughan added, “I thought it (serving) was excellent. I told girls to hit positions and they were going right for those positions. They had great servers, too, on both sides.”

Vaughan was very upbeat despite the first setback.

“I thought they did fantastic,” Vaughan said. “Yes, it was a loss, but I saw so much improvement, they improved from the first set all the way to the last one. That’s all I can ask for. They were low, they were receiving and they blocked really well. I am ecstatic about this game.”

And she knows what her team can work to improve upon in practice.

“I saw several things we can improve on, we’re going to hit those things in practice: some serve receive and more strength out of the coverage and I think it will be a great season.”

Bulldogs 25-25-25

West Fork 21-18-21

Kills– H-D (Kortney Dunt 7, Jaelyn Hickman 7, Emma Aalbers 3, Elle Westhoff 2, Aja Sheppard, Emma Showalter); WF (Keelee Sheriff 5, Madisyn Bonner 2, Kalli Trewin 2, Emma Martinek 2). Blocks– H-D (Hickman, Aalbers, Sheppard); WF (Sheriff 2, Trewin 2). Digs– H-D (Dunt 13, Addy Showalter 11, Sheppard 7, Aalbers 4, Keely Craighton 3, Hickman 2, Quinic Spradlin 2, E. Showalter 2, Westhoff); WF (Haley Grady 6, Maddie Hubka 5, Sadie Latham 4, Sheriff 3, Mya Braun 2, Bonner 2, Grace Willms, Trewin). Assists– H-D (Sheppard 17, E. Showalter 2, Aalbers, Westhoff); WF (Sheriff, Trewin). Serving– H-D (Dunt 14-16, 4 aces; Sheppard 10-10; Alana Johnson 7-7, ace; Craighton 5-5, ace; Aalbers 14-15, 2 aces; A. Showalter 8-9, 3 aces; Hickman 8-11, 4 aces); WF (Latham 16-16, 7 aces; Hubka 12-12, 3 aces; Bonner 5-5; Trewin 10-11, 2 aces; Willms 6-8, ace; Grady 5-7).