Squaring off larger schools at the Gunnison Tournament on Sept. 1, the Dove Creek High School volleyball team continued its hot streak with three wins in four matches and improved its record to 6-1.
The Bulldogs opened the tournament against Crested Butte, which competes in Colorado’s 2A classification, and coasted to a 25-16, 25-15 win. Cassie Gatlin, Madilyn Hankins and Breea Meyer all had four kills for the Bulldogs, and Gatlin led her team in serving with five aces.
On the defensive end, Dove Creek was paced by Hankins, who was credited with eight digs. Grace Hatfield and Meyer each had six digs for the Bulldogs, and Taylor Hickman led the team with 11 assists.
Dove Creek’s second match of the tournament came against Olathe, which competes in Colorado’s 3A classification, and the Bulldogs coasted to a 25-15 victory.
Gatlin and Hatfield again combined to lead their team in kills with four, and Meyer and Hankins smashed down three kills each. Hickman led her team in digs (12), aces (2) and assists (9).
The Bulldogs’ third win of the tournament came against Mancos, a Class 2A school, by a score of 25-16, 24-26, 15-7. Gatlin led the Bulldogs offensively with nine kills, and Kiara Lingenfelter came up big for Dove Creek at the service line with four aces. Hankins led Dove Creek in digs with 10, and Hickman again led her team in assists with 11.
In the championship match of the tournament, Dove Creek squared off against Delta, a Class 3A school stocked with upperclassmen at nearly every position and lost, 27-25, 21-25, 15-13. Meyer led the Bulldogs in kills with seven, and Gatlin chipped in five point winners.
Six Dove Creek players had at least 10 digs, including Lingenfelter (18), Gatlin (15), Hickman (13), Hankins (12), Hatfield (10) and Meyer (10). Lingenfelter led Dove Creek in aces with five, and Hickman led her team in assists with 12.
Winners of six of their first seven matches, Dove Creek’s next match will come at home against Dolores on Sept. 11. The Bulldogs will then square off against Norwood at home on Sept. 14.