Lady Bulldogs take Loyola to the wire, fall one game short of state
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SUPERIOR — The Mission Lady Bulldogs’ bid for the All-Class State Volleyball tournament fell a game short, but they gave a performance that won’t be soon forgotten at the Western B Divisional Tournament.
In the loser-takes-third match in Superior, the Lady Bulldogs stood toe-to-toe with powerhouse Loyola Sacred Heart Breakers before ending their season with a five-set loss.
Entering the tournament, Mission coach Kendal Anderson said nobody paid too much attention to the Lady Bulldogs, even though they won the District 7-B Tournament. She said after giving the Breakers a scare Saturday, there is no way they’ll be able to fly under the radar next year.
“Maybe next year Mission will be on everybody’s minds. I’m really proud of them. They really made a name for themselves and for Mission volleyball. Next year, people will remember how they played and realize that they are somebody they’ll need to take serious,” Anderson said.
In their rematch with the Breakers – they lost to Loyola in four sets Thursday night – The Lady Bulldogs led 2-1, but dropped the fourth set 25-18 and the decisive set 15-11.
“I told them you can be disappointed that you’re not going to state, but you can’t be disappointed in how you played,” Anderson said. “They gave them (Loyola) a run. They were scared.”
Entering the season, the Lady Bulldogs’ back row was a little suspect, but Saturday they showed how far they’ve came. Anchored by libero Mackenzie Trudeau and with new addition Stephanie Lewandowski the Lady Bulldogs’ defense dug up hard hit after hard hit, finishing with 55 digs. Trudeau led the way with 28. Lewandowski and Ashley Courville followed with six.
Mission middle hitter Jenn Larsson, who was coming off a career-high, 19-kill game, led the Lady ‘Dogs attack again, finishing with 10 of their 35 kills. Sierra Scott followed with nine and Courville had seven.
With the loss, the Lady Bulldogs finished third, their highest finish under Anderson. In each of her three years of coaching Mission, the Lady Bulldogs have improved their placing at the divisional tournament.
The Lady Bulldogs opened the tournament by breezing past Valley Christian, 25-17, 25-21, 25-14.
Adessa Durglo and Larsson led the Lady Bulldogs’ balanced attack finishing with nine kills apiece. Scott and Courville each had seven. The defense finished with 50 digs with Trudeau leading the way with 14. The senior finished the tournament with 90 digs.
Durglo and Larsson did a good job at stopping the ball at net, with both finishing with four blocks.
Loren Erickson had 22 assists to go along with nine digs.
The Lady Bulldogs were sent to the loser bracket with a 25-18, 25-19, 18-25, 25-18 loss to Loyola Thursday night. After watching how her team played against the Breakers, Anderson was sure they’d get a rematch if her team played with the same intensity Friday. They did.
The Lady Bulldogs only dropped one set Friday to earn a second go at the Breakers. Led my Larsson 19 kills, they took care of Troy 19-25, 25-22, 25-22, 25-12 and then swept Thompson Falls 25-20, 25-18, 25-13.
The Lady Bulldogs finish the season 19-7.
Summary
Mission def. Valley Christian
25-17, 25-21, 25-14
Kills - Mission 32 (Adessa Durglo 9), Valley Christian 22 (Heidi Cross 11). Blocks - Mission 10 (Durglo 4, Jenny Larson 4), Valley Christian 15 (Cross 8). Digs - Mission 41 (Mackenzie Trudeau 14), Valley Christian 47 (Sarah Allen 10). Assists - Mission 25 (Loren Erickson 22), Valley Christian 15 (Audrey Huber 10). Aces - Mission 6 (Erickson 3), Valley Christian 1 (Tessa Pearson).
Loyola def. Mission
25-18, 25-19, 18-25, 25-18
Kills - Loyola 41 (Katy Ermatinger 17), Mission 25 (Adessa Durglo 8). Blocks - Loyola 14 (Madison Mansch 6), Mission 16 (Durglo 6). Digs - Loyola 54 (Stevie Kahle 12), Mission 47 (Mackenzie Trudeau 17). Assists - Loyola 21 (Alliy Sellman 21), Mission 21 (Loren Erickson 19). Aces - Loyola 9 (Mansch 2, Callan Haggarty 2), Mission 7 (Ashley Courville 3).
Mission def. Troy
19-25, 25-22, 25-22, 25-12
Kills - Mission 44 (Jenny Larson 19), Troy 39 (Jordan Williams 11). Blocks - Mission 13 (Adessa Durglo 8), Troy 10 (Michaela Curry 7). Digs - Mission 70 (Ashley Courville 20, Mackenzie Trudeau 20), Troy 85 (Williams 19). Assists - Mission 35 (Loren Erickson 28), Troy 35 (Alyssa Olds 32). Aces - Mission 13 (Erickson 7), Troy 12 (Curry 5).
Mission def. Thompson Falls
25-20, 25-18, 25-13
Kills - T. Falls 25 (Makayla Becker 13), Mission 29 (Sierra Scott 9). Blocks - T. Falls 6 (Kelsey Fitchett 3), Mission 7 (Adessa Durglo 2, Jenn Larsson 2). Digs - T. Falls 41 (Emily Wadsworth 11), Mission 34 (Ashley Courville 11, Mackenzie Trudeau 11). Assists - T. Falls 23 (Allison Vaught 22), Mission 24 (Loren Erickson 23). Aces - T. Falls 4 (four with one), Mission 11 (Sarah Bowers 4).
Loyola def. Mission
15-25, 25-13, 25-27, 25-18, 15-11
Kills - Loyola 40 (Kiernan Haggerty 14), Mission 35 (Jenn Larsson 10). Blocks - Loyola 19 (Haggerty 6), Mission 13 (Adessa Durglo 5). Digs - Loyola 59 (Stevie Kahle 20), Mission 60 (Mackenzie Trudeau 24). Aces - Loyola 11 (Alex Anderson 6), Mission 8 (Ashley Courville 6). Assists - Loyola 34 (Ally Sellman 30), Mission 28 (Loren Erickson 28).
