SCHULENBURG — The Schulenburg High School volleyball team shutout Flatonia High School Oct. 29 at Shorthorns Gym in Schulenburg by a final score of 25-22, 25-20, 27-25.
Each set was very close and this match could’ve went either way, but the Lady Horns found ways to grind out each of the three sets.
“Just caught a few breaks, to be honest,” said Schulenburg head volleyball coach Donald Zapalac.
“Kept battling and got a few really good swings. Got some really good, tough serves to give us some easy balls to play. It’s all about that. It’s about getting your team to understand that when we get quality swings, we’re gonna have a better chance to win.”
Lady Horns senior outside hitter Emmrie Marx had another outing with double-digit kills, putting down 10 kill for the match.
“I can’t say I do it myself,” Marx said. “I have a great setter and a great team. We do it as a team. We do it together.” Flatonia is still in great shape as the playoffs approach.
“We just got one of our players back from a major injury,” said Flatonia head volleyball coach Lauren Hoffman. “We competed better than we had the previous two games without her. All we ask as that the girls give 110% effort and I felt like it was there but were kind of closing our chapter on district right now. Our main focus is postseason.”
Flatonia took a 7-2 lead in ____ _____ _____ _____ ___________ made it 13-4 on an ace and a couple more kills mixed in. Schulenburg climbed all the way back and put it at 18-14 in favor of the Lady Bulldogs after a few kills, a tip ball, and a few mistakes from Flatonia, forcing Flatonia to call a timeout. Schulenburg would then tie it at 20 on a ball out of bounds from the Lady Bulldogs, which led to an ace from senior Avery Helms, two more kills, then a set-winning kill from junior Reagan Dusek to win it 25-22.
The second set was close as well with Schulenburg having a lead as big as 13-7 after a six-point streak on a bunch of kills and two aces. A ton of kills from Flatonia, which included an ace, brought them to within two 19-17. This was answered by a kill spree of their own from Schulenburg to surge ahead 24-20, then closed out the set 25-20 on an illegal hit from Flatonia.
The third set was back and forth again, but this time Flatonia had an advantage with a 18-13 lead after a kill from Lady Bulldogs sophomore Katelin Sullivan.
Schulenburg battled back with kills and put it at 20-19 before another episode of trading points toward the end of the set. After another kill from Sullivan that was answered by Schulenburg, the Lady Horns won the set and match on a ball out of bounds from Flatonia and an ace to seal it 27-25.
