Lady Bulldogs Post A Win On New Gym Floor

Wes Vork-NSO

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Sept 13, 2012

Kerry Rodd-NSO

With new lights last year and now a new gym floor this year the Carlton High School gymnasium has a bright and shiny look to it. On Tuesday night the Bulldog volleyball team overcame a slow start and built to a big finish in taking a 25-22, 20-25, 25-14 and 25-21 win over the Silver Bay Mariners.

The Bulldogs got out to an 11-6 start in game one, but silver bay got it to 16-15, and that is when the Bulldogs coach, Barb Soukkala called a time out. Eventually Silver Bay tied the game at 18, and then took a 22-1 lead, but Carlton tied it at 22. Then it was two big kills by Macor for points 22 & 23 as Carlton took the game one win.

Game two saw the Mariners roar back as they took a 21-10 lead and eventually took the game 25-20, but that seemed to ignite the young Bulldogs, who primarily play underclassmen this season.

“We will get our one senior back on Saturday and our libero Myranda Papesh is a junior, but other than that we are freshman and sophomores.” Carlton Head Coach Barb Soukkala explained to Northland Sports Online. “Last year they were eighth and ninth graders and this year they are freshman and sophomores. Last year I said youth wasn’t going to be an excuse so it isn’t going to be this year by any means and they showed it tonight, being able to come back in those games and not panic when we got behind.”

The ignition button did not get hit by the Carlton offense until they fell behind 7-2 in game three and that is when their offense went from sputtering to a rocket ship as they bounced back to finally tie the game at 10-10 before pounding their way to the 25-14 victory.

“It was their first home game and everyone was excited to play on the new floor. It was also their first week of school and they are not used to going to school all day and then practice or a game after so it takes a little getting used to,” explained Soukkala

Carlton got the jump on the Mariners in game four and took a 16-9 lead before finally finishing Silver Bay off for the victory.

To say it was a total team effort for the Bulldogs would be to put it mildly. Grace Macor snapped down 14-kills and had 15-digs. It was Macy Belich with three blocks, 17-digs and four ace serves. Hannah Benson finished with 19-set assists, Brianna Walton added 14-set assists and Jes Stanslaski recorded nine-kills as the Bulldogs used a young, but athletic, depth laden team to take the win.

Rebecca Dilley led the Mariners with 14-kills and 13-digs.

The Lady Bulldogs start the season 3-0 and will play in the Crosby-Ironton Tourney on Saturday.

Kerry Rodd can be reached at kerry@northlandsportsonline.com