Bulldogs Earn Second Place At District 1C Volleyball Tourney

The Bainville Bulldogs came through in the clutch to capture second place at the District 1C volleyball tournament in Plentywood on Saturday, Nov. 2.

“I’m so proud of the team. They have worked incredibly hard this season and battled until the end today,” Bainville Coach Kallie Clarke said of the effort.

Highlighting the run was defeating powerhouse North Country, 23-25, 25-17, 21-25, 2519, 15-13, in the second-place match.

After falling behind two sets to one, the Bulldogs used the net play of Hailey Berwick and Miah Pippenger to gain a 10-5 lead in the fourth set.

Ahead by a 15-13 margin, Pippenger scored two kills and Elsie Wilson had one for an 18-13 advantage. The Mavericks pulled to 20-15, but kills by Wilson and Berwick put the score at 23-15.

With the score at 24-19, Bainville ended the set on a tip by Berwick.

The Bulldogs jumped out to a 7-1 lead in the fifth set as the net play of Berwick along with the serving of Wilson and Pippenger led the attack.

North Country tied the score at 10-10, but a kill by Wilson put the Bulldogs back in the lead. Two more kills and an ace by Wilson gave the Bulldogs a 13-11 advantage.

The Mavericks tied the game on kills by CharLee McColly and BaiLee McColly. Bainville stepped up with the final two points on a kill by Berwick and a tip by Lila Butikofer.

In the district championship match, Scobey downed the Bulldogs by a 25-23, 25-19, 25-20, final.

Bainville advanced into the second-place match by sweeping Plentywood, 25-23, 25-14, 25-18. In the first set against Plentywood, Wilson scored a kill for a 23-18 lead. Another spike by Wilson increased the margin to 24-20 and Bainville held on for the 25-23 victory.

The serving of Chandi Johnson helped the Bulldogs gain a 17-10 lead in the second set. Kills by Berwick and Wilson increased the margin to 22-12. With the score at 23-14, the Bulldogs won the last two points on kills by Wilson and Pippenger.

The net play of Wilson and Johnson led the Bulldogs to an 18-10 lead in the third set. A pair of kills by Berwick put the margin at 21-16.

After Plentywood closed the margin to 21-18, the Bulldogs ran off the last four points on three kills by Wilson and a serve by Addison Hansen.

Bainville will face Savage at 4 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 7, in the first round of the Eastern C divisional tournament in Sidney.