Lady Cats split opening week

The Banner County Lady Wildcats opened their season at home on Friday, Aug.25, against the Cody-Kilgore Cowgirls.

Sets began with the junior varsity teams facing off for a quick three sets that ended the JV season opener with a 3-0 loss for the Lady Cats with varsity play immediately following.

Though they played hard, the varsity team also lost in three sets, 25-11, 25-10 and 25-10, struggling with their opponents’ cut shots.

Senior MaKenna Dahlgrin, a consistent leader on the court, led the team offensively with nine kills and three digs. Defensively Dahlgrin received nine serves and was the sole effective blocker.

Fellow senior Emily Singleton was credited with the sole ace serve for the Lady Cats and received 15 serves and added one kill while junior Jadyn Cross added two kills, three digs, one assist and received 12 serves.

The Lady Cats were kept busy on the court, racking up 12 digs and receiving 55 serves, but they were outmatched with the Cody-Kilgore deeper bench.

The Banner County ladies followed up their season opener by hosting a triangular with Minatare and the Creek Valley Storm on Thursday, Aug. 31.

The Lady Cats split the triangular, winning in two sets against the Minatare Indians (15-25, 21-25) and losing in two (25-10, 25-19) to the Storm.

Offensive leader, once again, was Dahlgrin with eight kills and six aces served. Defensively, Dahlgrin was credited with three solo blocks and was the only player effectively blocking an attack in the first game of the triangular.

Cross matched Dahlgrin in receptions, with five and added a kill to the mix as well as one ace, two digs and an assist.

Senior Sierra Flores added three aces, two digs and an assist and Bailee Underhill served one ace and received five in the first sets. Sophomore Rylie Mason received seven, added two assists and two digs.

Against Creek Valley the home team was out played on both sides of the net, totaling seven kills to the 20 Storm kills and serving 3 aces to their opponent’s 10.

Cross served up two of the three aces with Singleton serving the other and Dahlgrin was credited with six kills, Singleton one.

Defensively, Dahlgrin blocked one, as did newcomer Sam Vanosdall. The Banner County ladies remained fast on the court with most of them getting in some digs. Cross and Mason each logged three, Singleton, Dahlgrin and Flores added two each and Jules McDonnell one.

Singleton led in receptions from Creek Valley with eight, followed by Mason with seven, Dahlgrin with six, Cross with three, McDonnell and Underhill with two each and Flores with one.

The Lady Cats hit the road the following day to battle Arthur County in their first away game on Friday, Sept. 1, for a 3-1 loss for the Banner County team. No stats were available at press time and requests for information from the coach were unanswered.

Again, on Tuesday, Sept. 5, the Lady Cats hit the road for a triangular with Hemingford and Hay Springs. No information regarding the host team or game time was made available.

Next up is a home triangular with the Lady Cats inviting Bayard and Sioux County to their court on Saturday, Sept. 9.