Lady Dawg Volleyball swept by Heights, Dawgs still looking for first win
By TJ MAXWELL
Cove Leader-Press
The Copperas Cove Lady Dawgs had their three-game win-streak that moved them into the third-place spot in District 12-6A halted by a three-set sweep at the hands of the first-place Harker Heights Knights Tuesday night at Bulldawg Gymnasium in a varsity-only clash.
The Lady Knights took early leads in the first two sets and were able to fight off a Cove rally in each before running away late in the final set to earn the win (25-22, 25-23, 25-15) to cement their spot atop 12-6A at 9-1.
A net violation and passing miscues that resulted in service points by Heights’ sophomore Kaley Lelauti set the tone for the rest of the contest as the Lady Dawgs never could get in rhythm while the Lady Knights began to find their groove to open a 14-8 lead with kills by senior Sydney Seldon, junior Kayla Williams and Lelauti; along with blocks by senior Catherine Bakken and senior Tamia Tidline.
Cove senior Larissa Melendez answered another Heights block by Williams with a kill that began a 9-4 run that pulled them within two points, 19-17. Kills by junior Kyra Gaston, senior Jasmine Davis and Melendez contributed to the run.
A rally point by Heights, a pair of passing errors by Cove and a kill by Heights’ Tidline pushed the set to match-point 24-18. A kill down the middle and two more from the inside out by junior Jiya Edwards kept the set alive briefly until a kill by Seldon off the Cove block attempt closed the set 25-22.
The Lady Dawgs took an early 3-1 lead in set two led by a Melendez kill before kills by Tidline, junior Makayla Wiggins and Williams fueled an 8-2 run by Heights for a 9-5 score.
Kills by Davis and Edwards helped the Lady Dawgs regain the lead, 14-12, on an 9-3 run.
Kills by Seldon and Bakken, along with an ace by sophomore Alicia Mora, knotted the set at 17-all.
A kill and a block by Gaston helped Cove retake the lead, 20-17, before a block and kill by Williams gave the Lady Knights the first two points of a 8-3 run to close the set for a 25-23 win in set two and a 2-0 Lady Knights’ lead in the match.
A kill by Davis helped Cove tie the set at 23-all before a kill and a block by Tidline closed the set.
Kills by Tidline and Seldon, along with an ace by senior Rosa Lopez, helped the Lady Knights jump out to an 8-3 lead in the third set.
A kill by Melendez and blocks by Davis and Gaston helped Cove narrow the lead to one, 8-7, before a 10-2 run pushed the Lady Knights’ lead to nine, 18-9.
A block by Tidline, along with kills by Mora, Bakken and Tidline fueld the Lady Knights’ run.
An ace by Cove junior Emma Wasiak briefly slowed the Lady Knights, but kills by Tidline, Williams Bakken and Williams fueled a 7-4 run to close the set and match.
The Lady Dawgs fall to the fourth-place spot at 6-4 while the Lady Knights improve to 9-1 with Ellison (7-3) and Bryan (6-3) rounding out the top three spots in the 12-6A standings.
The Lady Dawgs travel to Killeen to take on the Lady Kangaroos (3-7 in 12-6A) with first serve set for 5:30 p.m.
Bulldawgs look to
earn first win on
road at Roos
The Bulldawgs have had a hard time with consistency on both sides of the ball thus far in the Covid-delayed 2020 football season, but they are hoping to change their fortunes tonight on the road against the 1-2 Roos.
After playing three of the four teams topping the District 12-6A standings, the Bulldawgs face a Roos team that has also struggled to find its identity this year.
The Roos, averaging just 260 yards of total offense and 15.4 points through five games, are coming off of their only district win against Ellison in a 27-20 contest.
Meanwhile the defense is surrendering 20 points per contest.
The Bulldawgs (1-5, 0-3 in 12-6A), averaging 311.5 yards and 19 points per game, are coming off a 41-17 loss to the undefeated Shoemaker Grey Wolves.
The Dawgs defense is surrendering 36 points per contest.
Senior Kadarius Marshall leads a varied rushing attack by the Roos. He has 350 yards and six touchdowns on 58 carries while three other running backs add 361 yards and three more touchdowns combined. Marshall also leads the receivers with 10 catches for 160 yards and two more scores.
Junior Ahmad Bailey is 36 for 73 passing for 495 yards and five touchdowns to lead the Roos.
Senior Jabez Eliam leads the Killeen defense with 51 tackles, including one for a loss and Taquan Jones with 45 tackles, including 13 for losses, and three sacks
Junior quarterback Shane Richey is 53 for 89 passing for 621 yards and three scores with senior Russel Cochran the leading receiver with 14 catches for 203 yards and 1 touchdown.
Senior running back Brandon Ortega leads the Cove rushers with 92 carries for 567 yards and a score. He adds two more scores on seven catches for 88 yards. Richey adds 44 carries for 223 yards and five touchdowns followed by senior Brody Sanders (7 carries for 184 yards and two TDs) and sophomore Warren Fleming (22 carries for 88 yards and two TDs).
Senior linebacker Kendal Parker leads the Cove defense with 57 tackles, including five tackles for losses and a sack. Senior Ayden Paquette adds 27 tackles, including 4.5 for losses, and 2.5 sacks.