Lady Bulldogs battle Cody on Senior Night, bounce back with win in Worland

The Lovell Lady Bulldog volleyball teams hosted Cody on Thursday in an exciting matchup that also served as Senior Night — a special evening honoring the team’s lone senior, Becca Nichols.

Nichols has dedicated four years to the Lovell volleyball program, demonstrating commitment, perseverance and leadership through both fun and challenging seasons.

“She never quit,” said Coach Tera Kostelecky. “She’s grown into a standout young woman with more tools than just volleyball as she moves beyond this sport. We are so very proud of her.”

The night brought tough competition across all levels. Both the freshman and junior varsity teams fell to Cody, but the varsity matchup told a different story. Facing the second-ranked Cody Fillies, the Bulldogs came out fearless and ready to compete.

Lovell stormed out to take the first two sets, setting the tone for an electric evening. The third set was a hard-fought battle that slipped away late, and the fourth set turned into a nail-biter. Despite trailing by a wide margin early, the Bulldogs fought back point by point, forcing a fifth set as Cody edged out a 31-29 win.

Coach Kostelecky praised her team’s grit and growth.

“It was great to see them battle back from a large score gap and get within reach of set point,” she said. “That, in itself, is a huge accomplishment. They’ve improved so much in so many areas of the game, and we’re so proud of how far they’ve come — but we also know they’re not done climbing.”

Lovell’s stat line reflected the effort and determination on display, ending the night with 55 kills, 48 assists, 8 aces and 4 blocks.

The following day, the Bulldogs hit the road to Worland, where fatigue from the emotional and physically straining previous night showed early.

“Our girls were mentally, emotionally and somewhat physically tired,” Kostelecky said. “It was a slow start, but they found a way to turn it around.”

All three Lovell squads finished the night with wins, with the varsity team rebounding from a first-set loss to take the next three sets straight. They tallied 44 kills (42 assisted), attacking smartly and finding ways to score around the block.

“I’m proud of their mental toughness,” Kostelecky said. “They pressed through a tough match and found a way to win. That mentality is what’s going to take them where they need to go this season — and we can’t wait to see it happen.”

The Lady Bulldogs are now preparing for another key conference matchup as they travel to Powell on Thursday (4, 5 and 6 p.m.) before heading into postseason play at the 3A West Regional Tournament in Pinedale October 31–November 1.