Lady Dawgs even record at 2-2 heading into 12-6A opener with Belton

By TJ MAXWELL

Cove Leader-Press

The shortened preseason for the Copperas Cove Lady Dawgs volleyball team got truncated even more over the weekend when one of their two scheduled contests was canceled, cutting the pre-district slate to just four games compared to the 25 games played before the district opener.

After starting the season with a pair of tough losses to Liberty Hill and Class 4A No. 3 China Spring, respectively, the Lady Dawgs responded with a road win over 5A Elgin and a home sweep over 5A Leander Glenn on Saturday afternoon to even their record at 2-2 before the match with Georgetown East View slated for 6 p.m. was canceled.

The Lady Dawgs had to battle back from an early deficit in their win over the Elgin Lady Wildcats on Tuesday.

After dropping the first set 25-17, the Lady Dawgs took control allowing just 30 points on the final three sets combined to earn the 3-1 win (17-25, 25-11, 25-7, 25-12).

Junior Jiya Edwards led the attack for the Lady Dawgs with 13 kills while senior Jasmine Davis added 11 kills. Also contributing to the kill line were junior Kyra Gaston (8), senior Larissa Melendez (6), senior Emily Vanderpoel (2) and senior Hope Chapman (1).

Setting up that offense were Vanderpeol with 23 assists and sophomore Jakhi Smith with 16.

The back-row defense was led by senior Emma Wasiak with 26 digs and 17 serves received. Nine other Lady Dawgs had at least three digs with junior Leeann Edmond and senior Jae Rogers leading that group with 12 and 11, respectively.

Gaston led the front-line defense with 10 blocks while Edwards added 10 and Davis chipped in two.

Edmond, Rogers and Edwards led in aces with three each. 

On Saturday, the Lady Dawgs hosted the Lady Grizzlies over Leander Glenn and came away with a sweep, 25-21, 25-21, 25-21 to move to 2-2 on the year.

Edwards and Davis again led the attack for the Lady Dawgs against Glenn with nine kills apiece. Five more Lady Dawgs got in on the action with Melendez notching six, Gaston (4), sophomore Aaliyah Butler (3), Chapman (3) and Vanderpoel (2).

Vanderpeol had 24 assists to set up the offense with Smith adding 10 more.

Wasiak again led the Lady dawgs in digs with 19 and serves received with 32. Vanderpoel and Rogers were next in digs with seven and six respectively. Davis was next in serves received with six.

Gaston again led the front line with five blocks followed by Edwards (4) and Butler (3).

Edmond led in aces with three.

Glenn’s attack was led by senior Chloe Coffee with a match-high 12 kills followed by senior Amanda Baker with seven and seven other players with two each.

Junior Maggie Gallagher led in assists with 15 followed by freshman Abbie Owens with 13.

Junior Mckenna Ellner led in digs with 15 and senior Taylor Davis led in serves received with 19.

There were no registered blocks for the Lady Grizzlies.

Ellner also led in aces with four.

The Lady Dawgs open District 12-6A play tonight at home against the Belton Lady Tigers (2-4) with the junior varsity slated for a 5:30 p.m. first serve with the varsity to follow.