September 9, 2016
Dexter sweeps rival Bernie in two sets 25-13, 25-16
"Bernie brings their best game usually when they come to see us," Dexter coach Carmen Morgan said. "It's always going to be a good rivalry. It's always a good game and a fun game, because there's always a crowd."
By Brent Shipman ~ Standard Democrat
DEXTER -- A strong start to the first set had Bernie hopeful of upsetting SCAA Conference rival Dexter Thursday night at the Bearcat Event Center.
A timeout by the Bearcats, however, allowed them to gain control of the set and the match, going on to sweep the Mules 25-13 and 25-16.
"Bernie brings their best game usually when they come to see us," Dexter coach Carmen Morgan said. "It's always going to be a good rivalry. It's always a good game and a fun game, because there's always a crowd."
After trailing to open the first set the Mules put together their best run of the night in taking six of seven points to go ahead 9-7.
Dexter (8-4-2) called their first timeout of the game and whatever struggles they had quickly vanished once they broke the huddle.
Six-straight points went their way after the break and they wouldn't allow Bernie (4-5-2) to take consecutive points the rest of the way. The Mules burned both timeouts trying to stop Dexter's momentum, but the Bearcats finished the set on a 7-1 run to win 25-13.
Bernie was outscored 18-4 to close out the set.
"Honestly these girls don't get too shook," Morgan said, about her team's early struggles. "I think they have confidence and feel like they can come back and get the job done. My message to them was you better clean up the unforced errors I'm seeing out there. We didn't come out here to play that way. Start doing what we know how to do and playing our kind of ball and let them play a little defense."
A kill gave Bernie its only lead of the second set at 3-2, but seven-straight points by the Bearcats followed to give Dexter a lead, 9-3, it wouldn't relinquish.
The Mules hung within five points as late as 15-10 and still were within six at 22-16, but any hope of a comeback was dashed when Dexter took the next three points to seal the sweep with a 25-16 win.
"They were just kind of down at different times," Bernie coach Monica Collier said. "We played hard on some plays, but on others they just kind of let it go I guess. It's Dexter and they really wanted to win. We had some seniors that really wanted to take care of it that were a little disappointed and down on themselves. We made a couple mistakes and got down. It was just hard to get back up because Dexter's really good and you have to stay up and play well the whole time."
Junior Krysten Garrison led Dexter's offense with a game-high nine kills to go with two aces and 3 1/2 blocks.
Blair Rogers was second on the team with three kills and picked up a block while Bailey Williams, Janie Lindsey and Maycie Martin each contributed two kills.
"I got some players stepping up and hitting the ball well," Morgan said. "Addie Kruse is hitting well and Krysten's always hitting. Maycie Martin and Blair, they're all starting to hit and that's what we need. We have to have all of our hitters hitting and I feel like we're coming along in that direction.
"It takes a lot of pressure off Krysten because most teams are waiting on her to go. When we can throw the ball back to someone else and they'll put the ball down for us it takes a lot of the heat off her. That's what you want, a good balanced front row."
Dexter's next match will by at Woodland Sept. 12. Bernie will host Poplar Bluff that same day.
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