Bulldogs Stop Culbertson At Tournament

After a close first set, Bainville stepped up its play to defeat Culbertson by a 25-22, 25-5, 25-9, final on Thursday night.

A kill by Emma Berwick kept the Cowgirls close at 20-16 in the first set, but Bainville gained a 24-17 advantage as kills by Addison Hansen and Casey Myers highlighted action.

The Cowgirls kept fighting back as they struck for the next five points including an ace by Ayden Ator and a kill by Leandra Perkins. With the score at 24-22, the Bulldogs ended the set on a kill by Myers.

Bainville enjoyed a great start in the second set as the Bulldogs took a 10-1 lead on the serving of Chandi Johnson and Johnna Ryder along with the net play of Hailey Berwick and Hansen.

Kills by Berwick, Myers and Hansen increased the gap to 16-3. Then, consecutive kills by Berwick and an ace by Hansen resulted in a 19-3 margin.

Culbertson tallied the next two points on spikes by Mariana Burciaga and Berwick, but aces by Lila Butikofer led Bainville down the stretch for a 25-5 victory.

The Bulldogs jumped out to a 9-1 start in the third set on kills by Myers, Berwick and Jaylynn Bjorge. The Cowgirls responded with kills by Perkins and Kalia Featherston.

Ahead by a 13-4 margin, Bainville used several aces by Hansen and a kill by Chandi Johnson to put the score at 184. Kills by Butikofer and Berwick increased the margin to 22-6.

Culbertson scored on kills by Perkins and Catherine Donaldson, but the Bulldogs put the match away on a block by Jodi Albus and a kill by Hansen.

Bainville defeated Brockton, 25-6, 25-4, 25-6, in the opening round of the tournament.