Lady Bulldogs Volleyball Places 2nd At State Tournament
Author: Kelly Morris
Lady Bulldogs Volleyball Places 2nd At State Tournament
Kelly Morris
The Lady Bulldogs capped off an outstanding season by taking home the 2nd place trophy at the 2023 State Volleyball Tournament held in Bozeman last weekend.
The Bulldogs have made it to the State Tournament 3 years in a row now, or 4 years in a row if you don’t count that weird COVID year!
The Lady Bulldogs finished the regular season undefeated at 14-0 and had an overall record of 24-5. Four of those five losses came at the hands of the eventual state champion Huntley Project Red Devils.
Our girls played probably their best match of the season against Huntley Project in the championship match on Saturday. Huntley won the match 3-1, but the Bulldogs gave them all they could handle, winning the third set, and very nearly the second set, which Huntley won by just two points.
Throughout this season, and especially during tournament play, the Lady Bulldogs have shown what a tough, determined team they are. When asked what attribute of this team best defined them, that is what Coach Megan Bleile immediately pointed to, saying “This team was the most mentally tough team I’d ever coached. To come back from being down 0-2 and winning the next 3 sets on more than one occasion takes grit and determination. They just never gave up. Our motto this year was “We Before Me” and they lived by it day after day, game after game.”
When asked what the most satisfying thing was for her this season Coach Bleile said “…watching them play as a team and coming back in the District Tournament to beat Jefferson twice, and beating Baker at Divisionals to qualify for State, after being down 0-2.”
The team was led this year by a very impressive group of seniors. Emily Bird led the team in assists with 1,385, and earned All-State and First Team All-Conference honors. Luci Horne led the team in Digs with 708, earning All-State and First Team All-Conference honors. Reese Wolfgram led the team in Kills with 360 and earned First Team All-Conference honors. Fellow Seniors Havyn Vandenacre and Liz Collins were absolutely critical to the Lady Bulldog’s strong backcourt, and Cheyenne Cavin was an awesome addition to our already strong front as well!
A few school records were broken this season, as well. Emily Bird set the record for Assists In A Single Game with 66 and also Assists In A Season with 1385, and Assists In A Career with 4,755. And Luci Horne set the new school record for Digs In A Single Game with 44.
Coach Bleile also noted, “Even though we are losing 6 seniors, we have a very talented group of young ladies that played key roles this season and they will come back next year ready to get to work.”
Sophomores Kaitlyn Noyes and Aspen Slyker both led the team in Blocks with 61.5. Kaitlyn Noyes and Junior Cassidy Flynn both received 2nd Team All-Conference honors. Sophomores Emmalin Fischer and Holly Newman rounded out the Bulldog’s strong backcourt.
Thank you to Coach Megan Bleile, and to Assistant Coaches Aliece Estrada and Jennilee Bird for all of your hard work in helping to develop these fine young ladies into more than just good volleyball players!!
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PhotoCredit: Photo Credits: Kelly Morris
Image 1 Caption: Broadwater High School Girls’ Volleyball team takes second last week at State Tournament in Butte.
Photo Credits: Kelly Morris
Image 2 Caption: Volleyball team players scream their appreciation for winning second at the State Tournament. From left: Seniors Cheyenne Cavin, Havyn Vandenacre, Luci Horne and Reese Wolfgram. Seniors Emily Bird and Liz Collins, in back, accepted the plaque also.
Photo Credits: Kelly Morris
