Lady Saints fall to Dodge

Seward’s Jasmyn Kistller gets ready to hit the ball Wednesday against Dodge City. The Lady Saints dropped a three-set match to Dodge City. L&T photo/Earl Watt Special to the Leader & Times 

Seward County Lady Saints volleyball took the floor inside of the Green House on Wednesday afternoon to take on one of their biggest conference rivals in Dodge City who came into Liberal, Kansas and was able to beat Seward for the first time in over a decade with a 3- 0 sweep. 

It was as rough start for the Lady Saints in the first set with the Conquistadors rampaging out to an early 6-0 lead, but Seward County was able to cut their deficit to four after Keala Wilson scored three straight kills to bring the Conqs lead down to 8-4. Dodge City, however, would not come back down and grew their lead back out to five with a 15-10 lead and never looked back as they swiftly finished off the Lady Saints in the first set 25-16. 

The second set had a much better start for Seward County with the Lady Saints able to take a lead of their own thanks in part to Dora Filipovic who sent a rocket through an opposing player for a kill to put them up 6-4 against Dodge. 

Dodge City was able to fight back and tie the set at 22-22 and even with the second going to extra points, the Lady Saints couldn't find a way to come out on top as Dodge took the second 26-24 and improve to a 2-0 lead over Seward. 

Once again, the Conquistadors put themselves ahead early in the third despite the Lady Saints staying right on their heels thanks to Kistller swiping a kill across the blocker to put themselves within one at 7-6. Despite Seward finding ways to keep themselves close and even knot the score up at 9-9 off an ace from Rafaela DaSilva, Dodge City continued to put themselves back in front with an eventual seven-point lead but was cut down to three as a kill from Filipovic and an ace from Kistller put the score 22-19. Despite being able to find some late rhythm, the Lady Saints couldn't surpass the Conqs lead as Dodge City finished the 3-0 sweep with a 25-20 win in the third. 

Seward fell to 10-8 on the season and 2-3 in KJCCC action.