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(ALEX HAVARDANKSY | THE GRAHAM LEADER) Makenzie Vacante sets up for a serve Tuesday, Sept. 9, against the Bowie Lady Rabbits. Vacante serves as the team’s libero and defensive specialist. -
(ALEX HAVARDANKSY | THE GRAHAM LEADER) Paizlee Evans sets a ball for the Lady Blues in their match Tuesday, Sept. 9, against the Bowie Lady Rabbits. The Lady Blues defeated the Lady Rabbits in three sets. -
(ALEX HAVARDANKSY | THE GRAHAM LEADER) Hudson Wright goes up for a kill Tuesday, Sept. 9, against the Bowie Lady Rabbits. Wright got the final kill of the night for the Lady Blues to pick up the win.
The Graham junior varsity Lady Blues picked up their second straight non-tournament win. This Bowie Lady Rabbits win comes following their victory over the Iowa Park Lady Hawks.
The match took place Tuesday, Sept. 9, and coach Courtney Wright believes that the team officially entering their tournament season aids them greatly in forming team chemistry to help pick up effective wins like this.
“I think we’ve made a lot of progress,” Wright said. “Having a tournament helps because you get a lot more games. We’re starting to get a little more confident in our lineup.”
The Lady Blues got things started early in set one with a point from Braylee Wenninger. Hudson Wright and Makenzie Vacante also made their presence known during this set.
Wright was a force on offense throughout the evening picking up kills and points at the front net while Vacante got the team off to a solid start at the service line to the tune of a 7-1 lead.
Vacante also picked up a key dig that resulted in a point. The Lady Rabbits tried to fight back in the set, but ultimately Graham outmatched them taking things 25-14.
Set two, the Lady Rabbits fought back and took things 25-18.
However, the Lady Blues didn’t go down without a fight. Collins Weil got the Lady Blues first point with a tip at center net in the set.
Ruby Shaffer also picked up a point on a serve receive opportunity. Weil followed that with a kill and picked up multiple aces at the service line.
Kate Hufstedler added to the ace total at the service line with one of her own while McKynley Corley and Weil teamed up for a pair of nice blocks defensively.
Set three is where the team ultimately took the win though. The team started strong, leading 3-0 and never surrendered it.
The Lady Rabbits had a moment of fight to tie the score 5-5, but Wenninger came through with a kill to retake the lead.
Shaffer took control at the service line to help the team jump out to a 12-8 lead later in the frame, and Wenninger picked up another kill to eventually make the score 14-8.
Shaffer went on to pick up an ace and Paizlee Evans recorded a kill to make it 19-11 Graham.
Wright finished things off picking up the final points on the night, including a kill that bounced off would be blockers hands for Bowie to pick up a 25-19 set three and match victory.
After competing in a tournament Saturday, Sept. 13, the Lady Blues will be back in action at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 16, on the road against Abilene Christian.
