Lady Bulldogs Beat Cottondale

10/24/08
By Clint Cox

COTTONDALE – The Marianna Lady Bulldogs volleyball squad traveled to Cottondale on Tuesday night and edged the Lady Hornets 3-1 to win the match. Game one went the way of Marianna by a score of 25-17. Game Two saw the Lady Bulldogs jump out to an early lead of 5-1. Cottondale battled back and pulled to within one point at 8-7. With Krista Griffin setting up Jana Hinson for several thundering kills, Marianna outscored the Lady Hornets 6-1 to take a 14-8 lead. Cottondale again battled back and managed to tie the game at 15-15. Randa Hickman came up with a kill for Marianna to make it a 18-16 lead for the Lady Bulldogs. From there Marianna went on to post a 25-21 win.
Game three was nip and tuck from the start. Cottondale took an early lead but Mariana battled back to lead 7-6. Jessica Heid of Cottondale served up a winner to tie the game at 10-10. Cottondale surged ahead and a Heid block gave the Lady Hornets a 17-13 lead. Heid’s block later made it a 20-15 game in the Lady Hornets favor. A kill by Jordan Sonaglia of Marianna momentarily halted the Lady Hornets but they went on to win the game 25-19. Game four was tied at 5-5 before Cottondale pulled ahead on a kill by Michelle Bassin. Marianna tied the game at 10-10 and then pulled ahead to 13-10 on the serving of Hinson. The Lady Hornets would not quit though and some fine serving by Chelsea Caudill tied the game at 19-19. With the game tied at 21-21 Sonaglia smashed a kill and then served a winner to push the Lady Bulldogs to a 23-21 lead. From there Sonaglia served out the game as Marianna posted a 25-21 win.
With the win Marianna improved to 12-3 on the year and will have their final regular season game on Thursday against Wewahitchka. The Lady Bulldogs will be the #1 seed in their upcoming district tournament in Bonifay and will play next Thursday against the Tuesday night winner of the Chipley and Holmes County contest. Cottondale will host their district tournament and as the #2 seed they will play on Tuesday night against Blountstown. Sneads will also participate in that tournament and as the #1 seed they will play on Tuesday night against the Monday night winner of Altha and Bozeman.