DW Lady Wolfpack off to rough start

DAYTON–In the Lady Wolfpack's first three matches of the 2021 2B volleyball season, they've had a bit of an uphill battle and have dropped each of the matches in three sets.

Dayton-Waitsburg hosted Cle Elum-Roslyn last Saturday, falling in three sets. On Thursday, September 16, Walla Walla Valley Academy won handily in three sets in the team's home opener. In the season's first game at River View on Tuesday, September 14, the Lady Wolfpack played the Panthers tough, but were edged in three close matches.

DW traveled to Columbia last Tuesday for a match against the Lady Coyotes, the first of a trio of road trips for the team. On Saturday, September 25, DW travels to Milton-Freewater to face Mac-Hi and then on Tuesday the 28th, is a long road trip to Warden for a non-league contest.

The Lady Wolfpack were competitive in the 20-25, 18-25, 23-25 loss to Cle Elum-Roslyn Saturday on the Dayton court. The scores show that DW competed well and were just a few points out of the running in each set.

"These girls played hard today," commented Head Coach Tracy Barron. "I'm so proud of how they worked together. They are first, last, and always a team."

Kylee Henry nailed four kills on offense, and served two aces. She made three digs and three assists.

Makenna Barron hammered two kills, put up two blocks and defended well with five digs. She served four aces while at the service line.

Emily Rodrick shot one kill, made five assists, and counted three aces while serving.

Against the visiting Lady Knights of WWVA, the Lady Wolfpack were flat and not seeming to click in the 5-25, 7-25, 14-25 three-set loss.

"The team came out really flat tonight," Barron said. "They couldn't seem to find their groove. Things finally started coming together in the third game, but too much time had passed.

"I'm looking forward to watching this team grow and overcome obstacles in the future," the coach said.

Megan Forney counted two kills and two digs, Henry had a kill and two assists and Rodrick a kill, an assist and one ace.

After losing the first set by a close 24-26, Dayton-Waitsburg competed well but were just shy of getting an advantage, losing the next two sets 21-25 and 22-25.

Coach Barron said she is proud of the team for its performance following trying circumstances caused by covid, including the restriction of athletes from the two schools practicing as a single group.

"I am so proud of these girls," Barron stated "Due to a COVID shutdown, we were only able to practice with both schools together one time before this game. The team proved that have grit and determination that a coach only dreams about. I'm so excited to watch them grow throughout the season."

Peyton Struckmeier was perfect at the service line with 100 % serving, and she notched four kills, one block and eight digs.

Forney was tough at the net, counting five kills and two blocks. She made six digs and an ace serve.

Strong at the net for the team was Rodrick, who pounded three kills, made three assists and had four ace serves.