Haxtun Lady Bulldogs advance into Regional play as 18th seed

The Haxtun Lady Bulldogs wrapped up regular season volleyball action this week and have advanced to the post season with first round contests slated for this Saturday in Briggsdale. The local ladies earned the 18th seed in a 24-team bracket in the post season, which pits them in Region 7 action against Briggsdale and Kit Carson. Briggsdale enters as the number seven seeded team just ahead of 10th ranked Kit Carson.

To wrap up the regular season, Haxtun hosted their final home contests on Friday with triangle action against Weldon Valley and Holyoke. Haxtun took the court first against Weldon Valley where the home team earned a five set victory with a three set comeback after being down two sets to none. Weldon Valley took sets one and two, 25-20 and 25-22, but Haxtun dominated sets three and four, 25-14 and 25-10, to even things out. In the fifth and final, the Lady Bulldogs came from behind to take the victory, 15-13.

Two Lady Bulldogs led in double-digit kills putting down a combined 29 for the night; Taylor Schram put down 16 kills and Allie Thompson added 14. Megan Walker, Cassidy Goddard and Ella Coffin each added four kills throughout the five set contest with Weldon Valley. Goddard tallied five assisted blocks at the net followed by Thompson with four and Ella Coffin with three.

Four Lady Bulldogs served perfectly in Friday's first contest including Thompson, Schram, Goddard and Coffin. Thompson, K'lyn Bornhoft, Schram, Walker, Kylee Workman and Coffin each registered one service ace.

Four players in red and black racked up double-digits in the back row on defense; Thompson, Bornhoft and Coffin each tallied 14 digs followed by Schram with 11. On serve receive, Bornhoft put up 21 successful passes followed by Coffin with 17.

Setters Thompson and Schram combined for a total of 41 assists in the contest.

The same night, the Lady Bulldogs faced off with Holyoke for the second time in just a week. While the outcome of the contest was the same, with the Lady Dragons taking the win, Haxtun did take the team to four sets in the most recent match up. Holyoke won set one 25-22 but the Lady Bulldogs answered back taking set two, 25-19. The Lady Dragons went on to win the third and fourth, 25-22 and 25-14, for the win.

Schram and Thompson again led their team in kills, this time Thompson put down 13 kills followed by Schram with 11. Goddard tallied eight kills in the four-set contest followed by Coffin with five. At the net, Thompson, Goddard and Coffin each registered three assisted blocks.

From behind the service line, Coffin and Schram both served 100 percent for the second consecutive contest. Bornhoft and Walker each registered two aces while Godard and Schram each had one.

At the setter position, Thompson tallied 18 assists followed by Schram with 14.

In the back row, on serve receive, Coffin tallied 33 passes followed by Bornhoft with 24 and Goddard with 17. On defense, Schram registered 27 digs, Bornhoft had 17 and Goddard tallied 13.

"I am really proud of how hard our girls worked this week," said Head Coach Paige Thompson. "The win against Weldon Valley was what we needed to do to ensure a spot at regional volleyball. We played tough against Holyoke for the first three sets, and just ran out of steam during the fourth set. The girls are focused and excited for our Regional games on Saturday."s

On Saturday, the Lady Bulldogs are set to travel to Briggsdale for Region 7 Volleyball action where they will face off with Briggsdale and then Kit Carson in the first two games scheduled for the day.

According to Maxpreps, the Briggsdale Lady Falcons are currently 11-3 overall. Kit Carson enters with a 9-5 overall record. Haxtun will face off with Briggsdale at 11 a.m. followed by a contest with Kit Carson. To wrap up play, Briggsdale will take on Kit Carson.

The winner of the Region 7 bracket will advance to the Colorado State volleyball finals set to begin on May 12.