Lady Bulldog netters show depth and determination

The Lovell Lady Bulldogs demonstrated their growing strength last week, first challenging the state’s top-ranked Cody Fillies and then sweeping Tongue River during Homecoming Weekend.

On Tuesday, Lovell’s freshman and junior varsity squads set the tone, each edging Cody in three tight sets before the varsity took the court. Although the varsity fell 25-12, 25-17, 27-25, head coach Tera Kostelecky said the match was a sign of real progress.

“We matched up with them much better than we did in Rawlins last weekend,” Kostelecky explained. “We didn’t get beat by Cody — we played right along with them.”

After a slow start in the first set, the Bulldogs sharpened their game. They served at 86 percent with three aces, dug up 42 Cody attacks and found ways to slip 25 kills past a front line stacked with eight seniors. The third set brought the night’s most dramatic set, with Lovell
pushing the Fillies to extra points before falling 27-25.

“We are growing in the right direction,” Kostelecky said. “As long as we keep climbing, I have no doubt we’ll see success when it matters most.”

Saturday’s Homecoming games brought more to celebrate. Hosting Tongue River, all three Lovell teams — freshman, JV and varsity — swept their matches in two or three sets. The varsity rolled 25-14, 25-20, 25-18, showing poise and creativity on their home court.

“It was great to see the competitive drive from the bottom all the way to the top,” Coach Kostelecky said. “Our girls have been working really hard at holding their heads up after a mistake and moving on to gain the next point back. This match was one of the first where the
varsity, as a whole, was able to do this from start to finish. I am proud of these girls as they have been able to set goals and obtain them.”

The Bulldogs posted 43 digs, 10 aces and 34 kills against Tongue River, and players used the opportunity to experiment and “find their own rhythm,” according to their coach.

Lovell then turned around and set their attention to a rivalry matchup at Rocky Mountain on Tuesday and will host conference foe Worland on Thursday, with games at 4, 5 and 6 p.m.

The Lady Bulldogs took care of business against the Lady Grizz, defeating them 25-21, 25-10, 25-15, on Tuesday night in Cowley.