Dawson Lady Bucs Finish Season Strong
The Lady Bucs have had a great ending to their regular season, finishing 6-2 in the month of October, they have secured a home play-off game scheduled for Wednesday October 29 against Dakota College at Bottineau at 6pm.
During the Month of October the Lady Bucs beat North Dakota State College of Science in four sets, the number 1 team in the Mon-Dak Conference. Then Miles Community college in four sets, the number 2 team at the time in the Mon-Dak Conference. Head Coach Dina Fritz said, "We have talked all season long that it is a marathon not a sprint. We want to be playing the best volleyball we can at the end of the year and I feel like we are getting to that point."
Leading the team in kills going into the post season are Jerel White Grass (226 kills) and Destiny Thompson (220 kills), "both Jerel and Destiny are our outside hitters and have taken a lot of swings during the season, but they both have worked hard on their different shots to keep the defense on their toes." Coach Fritz commented.
Leading the team in assists is Aspen Baird (595 assists), "Aspen is sitting third in the conference in assists per set and has done a great job of distributing the ball to our hitters, along with her defense and serving she has become a stable player for us throughout the season.", Coach Fritz said.
Freshman Emma Davis leads the team in aces. Going into the post season Davis is number one in the conference in aces per set. "Emma is one of two freshman on our team this year, and due to injury of McKenzie Smith, she is the only freshman that is playing. She has done a great job coming in and serving for us and playing great defense. It is not easy to do her role and she embraces it and does it well.", said Coach Fritz.
Defensively the Lady Bucs have really made strides the past month in both the digging and blocking department. Leading the team in digs is Gracie Kuntz (234), the team's libero. Coach Fritz comments, "Gracie has grown over the past year in the back row, she not only is playing with a lot of confidence, but is helping her front row feel like she has their back in coverage and communicates effectively with them about holes." Also helping the team out in the back row are Haleigh Henschel and Emmie Fishell. "Haleigh has stepped into a new role this season as a right side hitter, normally a DS/L, she has taken this role and made it hers. She has been hitting effectively lately, serving very aggressively, and helping lead out team in the backrow in serve receive and defense. Emmie has come in this season and also stepped into a role, having to serve receive primarily, playing multiple back row spots, and serving aggressively she has helped the back row feel secure with her calm demeanor.", Coach Fritz said.
Rounding out the Lady Bucs team are Kendall Scheffelmear and Nikki Roberts, the two middles of the team. Scheffelmear is currently leading the team in blocks (56) and is sitting fourth in the conference in blocks per set, while Roberts is leading the team in hitting percentage (.232), "Both of these girls work hard every game blocking and making themselves available in transition to help free up our pin hitters. Without them our defense would be left hanging out to dry." said Coach Fritz.
The Lady Bucs host Dakota College at Bottineau on Wednesday October 29 at 6pm, if they win that match they will travel to Wahpeton North Dakota to take on Lake Region State College at 10am MST November 1st in the quarter finals of the Region 13 Tournament.
