Rams slip past improving SHS

Lady Bulldogs scare defending state champs in second set, 26-24

sd_sports@yahoo.com

SIKESTON -- Battling to extra-points in the second set, Sikeston gave visiting Scott City a scare Thursday night.

After falling 25-18 in the first set to the Lady Rams, the Lady Bulldogs were a point away from winning at 24-22, before Scott City rallied for four straight points to take the match 26-24.

"I actually thought it was just going to be a quick match, like bam-bam, two sets and that's it," Sikeston's Asia Liggins said. "But we hung in there and we were not going down without a fight."

Though Scott City ran away with the first set in the end, the Lady Bulldogs dug out of a early hole that left them trailing 8-3.

A big block by Liggins and fellow front court member Trenice Greer on a Lady Ram spike attempt capped a Sikeston comeback that brought the Lady Bulldogs back to within one at 14-13.

An ensuing timeout by Scott City, however, allowed the Lady Rams to compose themselves before going a 11-5 run with the final point coming off a botched Sikeston serve that squarely hit the net.

Something must have clicked for the Lady Bulldogs opening the second set. Starting with an opening serve kill by Liggins and finished off with a kill by Greer, Sikeston was able to jump out to an early 9-3 lead.

Getting out of their funk, Scott City quickly caught back up tying the game at 11 apiece on a errant volley by Sikeston.

After trading the lead numerous times over the rest of the match, the Lady Bulldogs looked to have the edge when, up 23-22, Monica Carter's serve clipped the net before bouncing over to put Sikeston at game-point.

Unfortunately for Sikeston, after Carter's ensuing serve landed out of bounds, Scott City's Katie Hogan took over, giving the Lady Rams a kill and block before hammering down the final point from center court for the win.

"You can say (Scott City) didn't play well, but a lot of that has to be do to our playing well," Sikeston coach Steve Beydler said. "I think that some teams come in here and probably take us lightly and they were not expecting our hitters to be as good as they were. They realized pretty quick that not only can we hit, but we can also block."

Leading the charge up front, Greer and Liggins led the Lady Bulldogs charge against a dominate Lady Ram front court.

Greer came away from the contest with eight kills and a block while Liggins collected five kills and four blocks.

"I think we did really well," Greer said of her team. "Our front row was really good and so were our defense and passes. We could have pulled (that last set) out, but we still played well I think."

As for Scott City, Hogan finished the night with eight kills and 14 digs while Mikah Simpson came away with eight kills, two aces and 22 digs.

Though his team didn't come away with the win, Beydler thinks the way his team played against the current Class 2 state champions is a good sign for a young team that is still gelling.

"I think this is more than a baby step tonight," he said. "It's a big step towards feeling a little more confident and getting a little more momentum as we head in to conference play."

Next up, Scott City (11-2-1) takes part in Arkansas State University's Playday Saturday while Sikeston (3-13-2) will travel to Charleston to take on the Lady Bluejays Monday at 6 p.m.

JUNIOR VARSITY

Scott City's junior varsity also came away with wins in two sets, 25-17 and 25-13.