A nice crowd and a raucous student body were on hand on Tuesday for the home opener for the Alliance volleyball team. The Bulldogs, fresh off a strong second place showing over the weekend at Douglas, took on the Comets from Rapid City. Using an effective game at the net, the visitors from South Dakota downed the Dogs in three sets-25-15-25-23-25-14.
Alliance now sees their record slip to 5 and 3 while the Comets improved to 6 and 0. Rapid City also defeated Alliance in the 2 earlier games with both matches going 3 sets. Three early points by the hosts helped AHS garner an early lead at 3 to 2. An ace serve by Alliance’s Kinley Pfeiffer gave the Bulldogs the early momentum.
With the contest knotted at 4, it was the Comets who gain control. A couple of strong serves mixed with ace spikes gave Rapid a lead at 15 to 8, forcing an Alliance time out. The Dogs responded with an ace from junior Josie Sanders, making the score15 to 9. This was as close as it would get. The Comets slowly pulled away and won the opening set 25 to 15.
Two kills in the early moments by Jaelynne Clarke got AHS off to a good start in set 2. Kills from Bulldog Macy Brooks, Addison Weber, and Regan Braun helped Alliance take the lead at 9 to 8. Tied at 10 the Comets went on a strong run. Rapid surged ahead and led 21 to 15. The Lady Dogs answered back with ace spikes by Sanders and Braun to make things interesting in the final moments. Two more kills by Clarke would then tied the score at 23.
Unfortunately Rapid ended the set with the final 2 points and went to win the set 25 to 23.
It was all Rapid City in the third. The guests stormed out to 9 to 3 lead and were never threatened. Three more kills by Clarke and another from Braun helped Alliance stay competitive but Rapid was able to pull away, winning the final set 25 to 14.
RC 25 25 25
All 15 23 14
The very unofficial stats for the match had Clarke leading Alliance with 11 kills and 4 points. Braun finished with 4 kills while Taylee Thompson was good for 3 points.