On Monday, October 21, the Alliance volleyball hosted the Cardinals of Chadron. The Bulldogs were looking for a third straight win over the Cards. Chadron overcame a red hot start by the hosts and downed the Bulldogs in 4 sets 18-25, 25-18, 25-17, 25-23. With the loss, AHS now has a record of 12 and 20 while the Lady Cardinal’s record improved to 18 and 18. Alliance won the first meeting up in Chadron on September 10 in 5 sets and defeated the Cards at home on October 12 but couldn’t make it three in a row. The Cardinals also got the victory in the JV contest played earlier in the night. Alliance dropped the junior varsity game 25-23, 25-23.
An early ace block by Bulldog Josie Sanders and Ryli Poss got the Dogs off to a good start. The momentum wouldn’t stay with the Bulldogs long as Chadron recorded the next 5 points and led 5 to 1. Later in the opener, a kill by Alliance’s Shyla Salcido closed the gap to 6 to 4. Sanders continued her strong play at the net with an ace spike midway thought set 1 that made the score 9 to 6 in favor of the Cards. Down 3 at 11 to 8, the Dogs got a kill by Addison Weber and an ace serve by Sanders to pull within one. Poss then went to the service line and ran off 5 points in a row to give AHS a lead. During the spree, Alliance got kills by Weber and Taylee Thompson. The teams then traded points with the Bulldogs getting strong plays by Poss and Thompson. Two kills by Alliance’s Alexis Libsack and a point by the lefty in the final moments of the set helped the Dogs go up 23 to 16. Set #1 closed with another kill by Sanders and a point by Macy Brooks. Alliance 25 Chadron 18
Chadron answered right back in the early action of set 2. The Cards put the first 5 points on the scoreboard and led 5 to 0. AHS responded with a brief run thanks to points by Thompson and a kill by Salcido that closed the gap to 6 to 4. Kills by Libsack and Salcido ensued but another run by the visitors gave Chadron the margin at 13 to 6. Two kills by Weber plus 2 points by the Alliance junior sliced the Alliance deficit to 17 to 13 later in the set. Another ace spike by Libsack pulled AHS to 3 at 19 to 16 but the Bulldogs would not get any closed. Set 2 went to the Cardinals 25 to 18.
In set 3, the teams traded punches with both teams enjoying brief leads. Points and kills by Poss tied the contest at 3. The set would then be tied at 4, 5, and 9. Three Weber points along with another Sander’s kill propelled the Dogs into the lead at 8 to 5. Down 9 to 7, it was Chadron’s turn to surge ahead. The Cards ran off 4 straight and went up 11 to 9. Two consecutive points including an ace by Bulldog Bailey Shannon later in the set gave the advantage back to Alliance at 12 to 11. Unfortunately it was the last time AHS would enjoy the lead. Five points in a row by the guests made the scoreboard read 16 to 12 in favor of the Cardinals. Kills down the stretch by Weber and Salcido gave the Dogs a chance late but in the end, it was too much for Chadron as the Cards recorded a set 3 win at 25 to 17.
Set 4 began with 2 straight points by Sanders, one was an ace serve, as Alliance took the early lead. A point by Poss later put the Bulldogs up 4 to 1. Down 5 to 2, the guests came with 5 points in a row and garnered a 7 to 5 lead. Momentum then went back to Alliance. Another ace spike by Sanders brought Bulldog senior Macey Seebohm to the serve line and the libero responded with 5 points in a row that gave AHS a lead at 12 to 8. Seebohm had 3 ace serves during the spree. Strong play followed by Thompson who would record an ace block and a point as Alliance held the lead at 17 to 13. Kills by Weber and Salcido later in the set helped the Bulldogs maintain their advantage at 20 to 17. Chadron answered back with strong play at the net that tied the game 21, 22, and 23. More kills by Weber and Sanders kept the Bulldogs close but 2 straight by the Cardinals finished the game and the set. Set 4 went to Chadron 25 to 23.
CHAD 18 25 25 25
ALL 25 18 17 23
Stats had 3 Bulldogs recording 7 kills each by Weber, Sanders, and Salcido Libsack 3 points 3 kills Weber 6 points Sanders 4 points Seebohm and Thompson 5 points apiece Poss 8 points 1 kill
Alliance will host a triangular on Saturday and be in action on Tuesday in district action in Gering.