Lady Bulldogs shine bright at Rawlins volleyball tournament

The Lovell Lady Bulldog volleyball teams made a remarkable showing at a 16-team 3A tournament held in Rawlins over the weekend.

Competing in a tough field, both the junior varsity and varsity teams battled through pool play on Friday, facing off against local teams Rawlins, Newcastle and Pinedale. Showing impressive skill and coordination, the Lady Bulldogs emerged victorious in all their matches, securing a spot in the Gold Bracket for Saturday’s competition.

The varsity team’s performance was particularly noteworthy, achieving an impressive 95% serving accuracy — a goal they set for themselves as part of their strategic preparation.

Coach Tera Kostelecky expressed her pride in the team’s steady progress, stating, “The girls are beginning to find their way through little steps of building as they climb this mountain ahead of them.”

She highlighted the improvement in serve reception and passing, which created opportunities for their hitters to find a rhythm and develop their plays independently.

Lovell concluded Friday with more than 60 kills as a team and an average of 18 digs per set, showcasing their relentless energy and commitment to keeping the ball in play.

Saturday brought the challenge of facing the top-ranked 3A team in the
state, Cody.

The JV team rose to the occasion, winning their match and advancing to
the semifinals of the tournament. The varsity squad, however, fought valiantly but ultimately fell short against Cody, losing two sets in a tightly contested match.

Coach Kostelecky noted, “We played right with them in the beginning of
both matches. As soon as we started to back down on the net, we
started losing points.”

Despite the loss, the team’s digging and serving statistics remained
strong, with the players executing their game plan effectively. In subsequent matches, the varsity defeated both Torrington and Lyman, while the JV clinched the Gold Bracket title for the second consecutive year — a testament to their hard work and dedication throughout the season.

Following their tournament success, the Bulldogs faced Cody again in their first conference match of the season on Tuesday night, with all three team levels engaged in closely contested games.

The freshman squad and JV team both secured wins in straight sets, while the varsity team battled through three tough sets but was unable to overcome Cody, who remains a formidable opponent.

Coach Kostelecky reflected on the match, stating that the varsity team’s performance was marked by a newfound intensity and passion.

“For the first time this year, I saw something come over the team that really showed in their level of play,” she said. “They began playing with heart, not just one or two players, but all 13.”

She noted that this collective hunger for victory leaves the coaching staff and supporters excited for what lies ahead as the season progresses.

The Lady Bulldogs are set to continue their journey this Saturday for
a homecoming event against Tongue River, with matches scheduled at 12, 1 and 2 p.m. Tuesday, the netters travel to Rocky Mountain for matches at 5 and 6 p.m.

Previous action

The Lovell High School volleyball team continued its hot start to the
season during the first week of September, picking up two non-conference victories over Greybull and Columbus.

On Tuesday, Sept. 2, the Lady Bulldogs hosted their first home match of the year against Greybull. Despite some nerves, Lovell pulled off a sweep, winning in three straight sets.

“As a team we had 33 kills and 13 aces,” Kostelecky said. “Although we would like to see our serving percentage be around 93–95%, we did fair with 85% serving. We also ended the night with 28 digs and 3 blocks.”

Coach Kostelecky noted that, while the team is still working on running
its high-tempo offense, the athletes are showing growth each match.

On Saturday, Sept. 6, Lovell hosted Columbus, Montana, in another tight battle. This time, the Lady Bulldogs won in four sets, extending their early-season momentum.

“We have played Columbus numerous times over the past couple of years, and it seems we always go point for point with them,” Kostelecky said. “They are a good, competitive team, and I was proud of how our girls rose to the challenge.”

Lovell’s improved serve-receive helped set the tone, giving them opportunities to showcase their quicker offense. The Lady Bulldogs finished the match with 40 kills, 18 aces, 7 blocks and a strong defensive effort highlighted by numerous digs.