LADY BULLPUPS GO 5-0 AT AVCTL PRESEASON INVITATIONAL

writingwithwilldur
Aug 26, 2023
3 min read

ROMERO SISTERS, ALEX & AVA, LEAD MCPHERSON TO WINS

By Staff

MCPHERSON – The McPherson High volleyball team opened their 2023 season in strong fashion on Saturday as they played host to the AVCTL (Ark Valley Chisholm Trail League) Pre-season tournament and closed the day out winning all five of their matches, including four straight set victories.

(The Lady Bullpups - 2023 AVCTL Pre-Season Tournament Champions)

After finishing 21-16 overall and 5-5 in league play, Lady Bullpup head coach Christy Doile was hoping to get her eighteenth season as leader of the program off on the right foot and the team did not let her down.

Opening the day with a 9:00 a.m., McPherson took a straight set victory over Valley Center to get it all started even though both sets were won by just two points each, 28-26 and 25-23, it was a match win.

The Lady Bullpups followed up with another pair of straight set wins, beating Derby 25-16 and 25-23 before dismantling Goddard 25-11, 25-14.

Against highly touted Andover in the fourth match of the day, McPherson lost the first set 20-25 before bouncing back with an eight-point 25-17 win in set two followed by a two-point 25-23 battle victory in the third set to stay unbeaten at 4-0 for the day.

In the final match of the day against Haysville/Campus, the Lady Bullpups took a close three-point, 25-22 win in set one before running away in set two for a 25-17 victory, giving them a final undefeated mark of 5-0 for the day.

Overall, McPherson held a plus-56-point differential over their five matches while Andover, who finished second at 4-1 for the tournament, had plus-51. Valley Center was third at 3-2 with a plus-40-point difference for the day, Derby went 2-3, Haysville/Campus ended up 1-4 on the day and Goddard finished 0-5 with a minus-72-point differential.

Leading the Lady Bullpups from her setter position, senior Alex Romero dished out 101 assists on the day while making 30 digs and seven blocks.

(Alex Romero)

Coming off a fabulous freshman season in 2022, sophomore hitter Ava Romero picked up where she left off in leading the team with 58 digs and 32 kills as well as making five service aces and tying for the team lead with seven blocks.

Haely Hageman, the team’s talented junior outside hitter topped McPherson by landing 12 service aces on the day.

The Lady Bullpups will get a huge test when they return to the court on Tuesday, August 29 at Andale for a triangular with Andale and Winfield. In 2022, Andale entered the Class 4A state tournament 39-0 before losing in the state championship match to Bishop Miege.

MCPHERSON LADY BULLPUP VOLLEYBALL hosting AVCTL Pre-Season Tournament

Matches:

Finished 5-0

Vs. Valley Center = won 28-26, 25-23.

Vs. Derby = won 25-16, 25-23.

Vs. Goddard = won 25-11, 25-14.

Vs. Andover = won 20-25, 25-17, 25-23.

Vs. Haysville/Campus = won 25-22, 25-17.

Tournament Standings = LADY BULLPUPS 5-0; Andover 4-1; Valley Center 3-2; Derby 2-3; Haysville/Campus 1-4; Goddard 0-5.

Team Point Differentials = LADY BULLPUPS +56; Andover +51; Valley Center +40; Derby -5; Haysville/Campus -25; Goddard -72.

LADY BULLPUP INDIVIDUAL STAT LEADERS:

Kills = Ava Romero – 32; Brooke Doile – 30; Haely Hagemann – 27.