Rivalry games are always a lot of fun to watch and Thursday’s nights game between rivals Alliance and Scottsbluff in volleyball ranks right up there. And when the smoke ended it was the Bearcats from the valley downing the Bulldogs in three close sets. The Bluffs defeated Alliance 25-17 25-23 and 25-20 in a well played match in Alliance. Earlier in the evening it was the Dogs winning both the reserve game and JV contests. Alliance won the reserve game in 3 sets by scores of 25-21 21-25 15-13 while the junior varsity battle also went 3 sets with Alliance prevailing 25-20 16-25 15-6. With the loss, the Alliance varsity club falls to 2 and 7 on the year.
Tied at 1 all early in set #1 it was the visitors who gained the early lead. Four straight Bearcat points gave the Bluffs the early advantage at 5 to 1. Alliance answered back with 2 straight but the momentum then quickly went to the guests. With the score 5 to 3, the Cats tallied the game’s next 7 points to move ahead 12 to 3. A kill by Bulldog Addison Weber stopped the rally and 2 more points coming from Weber from the serving line cut the Dog deficit to 12 to 6. The teams then would trade points with the Bluffs maintaining their lead. An ace spike by Alliance’s Macy Brooks was followed by a point by Josie Sanders kept Alliance close. Later in the set with the Bulldogs down 19 to 12 a kill by Alliance’s Alexis Libsack and points by Taylee Thompson closed the gap to 19 to 17. Weber added a couple of kills during the spree. Unfortunately the opening set ended with the Bluffs scoring the final 6 points as the Cats won set one 25 to 17.
Sanders began the start of set 2 with an ace spike that gave Alliance their first lead of the night. Tied at 2 later in the set it again was the Bluffs surging ahead. The Bearcats scored 5 consecutive to go up 7 to 2. Scottsbluff would then hold the margin for most of the set. Back to back points by Sanders drew Alliance close at 15 to 10. Another kill by Weber and service points by Thompson made the score 19 to 15 with SB still in the lead. Down 23 to 17 Alliance made one last push. Two straight ace serves by Bulldog Shyla Salcido put the hosts to within 4 at 23 to 19. Following a point by the Cats, Alliance got big plays from Sanders and points from Bailey Shannon to narrow the gap to 24 to 23. The set came to an end with a Scottsbluff point and the visitors winning set #2 25 to 23.
Both sides would enjoy the lead in set 3. A pair of points by Alliance’s Macey Seebohm gave the Dogs hope earlier on. With the score knotted at 8 again it was the Cats snatching the momentum. Scottsbluff scored 4 in a row before an ace block by Brooks pulled Alliance to within 3 at 12 to 9. Later on, an ace by Brooks and points by Sanders sliced the Bulldog margin to 2. The Bluffs responded with 2 straight to go up 16 to 12. Kills by Salcido and Weber later would tied the contest at 19. From there it was all Scottsbluff as the Cats would score 6 out of the game’s final 7 points. Set three went to the Bearcats 25 to 20.
SB 25 25 25
ALL 17 23 20
Final stats Weber 5 kills and 4 points Sanders 5 kills 6 points Salcido 4 kills 4 points Seebohm 4 points Brooks 4 kills Shannon 4 points
Alliance hits the road on Tuesday with a matchup against Chadron.