Sikeston spikes Oran

Wednesday, September 27, 2006
Sikeston's Caitlin Underwood spikes the ball.

SIKESTON - The Sikeston Lady Bulldogs volleyball team dispatched the visiting Oran Lady Eagles on Tuesday night at the Field House in two sets, 25

-20 and 25-21.

Sikeston has been dominate lately on service winners hovering around 90 percent, however, Sikeston head coach Steven Beydler stated that his club has had some issues with errors the last couple of games.

"We have been struggling with hitting errors lately," said Beydler. "That just gives easy points to the other team. We started out the same way tonight. We had some hitting errors early. As the match progress we went from hitting errors to the girls trying to gain some kills tonight. As that happened, we got a little tight and starting to tip at the ball. We were a little reactive tonight instead of playing our game."

The Lady Bulldogs serve game was tight as ever against the Lady Eagles led by Quinn Kaiser and Emily Taylor. Kaiser was a perfect 15-for-15 on her service with an ace, while Taylor was 12-for-12 on serve with an ace.

Sikeston used a strong service game to take the first set 25-20. In the second set, the Lady Bulldogs started to find their rhythm on offense.

Martika Davis had several kills in a row in the second set to set the tone for Sikeston. Davis led the Lady Bulldogs with six kills on the night. Caitlin Underwood and Taylor each had three kills apiece to pace the attack at the net.

Oran hung around Sikeston with a total team effort and at one point in the second set, tied the game at 16. The Lady Bulldogs took control after the tie and Destinee Walker had the final kill on her birthday to lift Sikeston in the second and final set, 25-21.

"We let Oran play their game and stick around a lot longer than it should have been if we played our game," said Beydler. "Towards the end the girls started to pull things together. We need to improve on our focus and play the way we are capable for a full match."

Rachel Beydler led the Lady Bulldogs with 13 assists, while Kaiser and Taylor each had six digs apiece to pace Sikeston.

On Monday night, Sikeston defeated Charleston on the road in two sets 25

-18 and 25-21. Davis led the Lady Bulldogs with eight kills, while Kaiser and Underwood each had four.

Kaiser led in digs with 12 followed by Beydler with 10, Taylor had nine and Ali Harper chipped in with eight digs for Sikeston. Beydler led the Lady Bulldogs with 15 assists.

Sikeston had a solid serving game led by Beydler who was 14-for-14 with an ace and Taylor was 11-for-11 with two aces. Kiarra Morris and Underwood led the Lady Bulldogs with three aces apiece.

Sikeston (11-7) travels to Dexter to take on a very good Lady Bearcat team at 6 p.m. on Thursday.

SIKESTON -- The Sikeston softball team picked up a hard-earned victory on Tuesday as they rallied to defeat East Carter County, 11-10 in eight innings at the Sikeston Complex.

Sikeston trailed from a 5-3 deficit with a seven-run fifth inning, only to see East Carter post five runs to tie the score in the sixth inning.

Sikeston won the game in the bottom of the eighth when Kaycie Williams singled, stole second and advanced to third on a fielder's choice.

Williams then came home to score the winning run when Dez Martin hit a ball back to the pitcher, who tried to get Williams out at home but the ball hit Williams, allowing her to score.

"It was a good win for us -- our last home game of the year," said Sikeston coach Tiffany King. "I kept stressing to the girls to never give up and they didn't. We've improved so much this season."

Sikeston hurler Mara Krokstrom was the winning pitcher, going the entire eight innings and allowing 11 walks, two hit batters with six strikeouts.

"She had a good game," said King. "She got herself into some trouble a couple times with some walks but she battled through it."

Emilie Martin went 2-4 with three runs scored to lead Sikeston. Kacie Williams and Dez Martin each had two hits.

Others were Kaitlyn Turnbow (1-5, run), Mary Deason (1-4, run), Kelsie Cooper (1-5, run), Hannah Eilders (1-4, run) and Krokstrom (run).

Sikeston will play at Delta tomorrow at 4 p.m.

The Kelly Lady Hawks redeemed an earlier loss at home to the Poplar Bluff Lady Mules with a 6-0 road victory on Tuesday afternoon.

Kailie Hughes was solid on the mound for Kelly earning the complete game victory with nine strikeouts, allowed only two hits and did not allow a walk in the contest.

Summer Proctor continued swinging a hot bat for the Lady Hawks going 3-

for-4 with an RBI. Brittany Ponder had three hits including a triple and a run driven in.

Casey Kern had two hits including a triple and Sarah Ruff also had two hits for Kelly. Katee Moore led the Lady Hawks with two RBIs and had a triple.

Kelly (20-5) hosts Chaffee today at 4 p.m.

Kelly 6, Poplar Bluff 0

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P. Bluff0000000-020

WP - Kailie Hughes

LP - Maloney

3B - Brittany Ponder (K), Katee Moore (K), Casey Kern (K).

Multiple hitters - Kelly: Ponder 3-5, Summer Proctor 3-4, Kern 2-4, Sarah Ruff 2-3.

Records - Kelly 20-5.

The Sikeston Lady Bulldogs tennis team dropped a tough match on the road at Fredericktown on Tuesday afternoon, 5-4.

In singles action, Jenni DeWitt lost her first regular season match in two years to Fredericktown junior Courtney Kemp, 8-2. Hannah Moore and Caroline Murray earned wins for Sikeston in singles.

DeWitt and Tess Marshall and Moore and Murray earned doubles victories for the Lady Bulldogs.

"Jenni and Tess had a great doubles match," said Sikeston head coach Lynne DeWitt. "Hannah and Caroline had good matches in both the singles and doubles. They both played aggressively and pulled out wins for the team."

Sikeston travels to Dexter today at 4 p.m.

Singles

1. Courtney Kemp (F) def. Jenni DeWitt, 8-2.

2. Jodie Cooper (F) def. Tess Marshall, 8-2.

3. Rachel Page (F) def. Danielle Ahlfield, 8-1.

4. Mackenzie Brown (F) def. Megan Underhill, 9-7.

5. Hannah Moore (S) def. Asha Ayyagari, 8-2.

6. Caroline Murray (S) def. Sam Pinkley, 8-4.

Doubles

1. DeWitt/Marshall def. Kemp/Cooper, 8-3.

2. Page/Brown def. Ahlfield/Underhill, 9-7.

3. Moore/Murray def. Ayyagari/Pinkley, 8-4.

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