EB spikers lose to No. 1 ranked Flatonia
By MIKE KONVICKA mkonvicka@journal-spectator.com

EAST BERNARD - The No. 1 ranked Class A volleyball team in the state proved worthy of that honor in their match with the East Bernard Brahmarettes on Tuesday night in Brahma Gym.

Flatonia beat the Brahmaretes 25- 15, 23-25, 25-7, 25-11 to improve to 15- 8 on the season.

The Brahmarettes slipped to 9-15 and played Shiner on Friday afternoon.

"That doesn't make it any easier," said EB coach Kelly Novicke, referring to losing to the No. 1 ranked team.

"It's going to help us fix some things that we need to."

After losing that first game, the Brahmarettes stepped it up and played lights out in the second match.

But East Bernard couldn't take the momentum in the fourth game, committing serveral hitting and digging errors.

"We had trouble with serve receive which hurt us the first time we played them," said Novicke.

"Flatonia's servers have some rituals and routines and they are very consistent. "

The Lady Bulldogs broke a 7-7 tie in the fourth game to take an 11-8 lead.

Flatonia, on the serving of Brittany Williams, then went up 15-8.

She finished the match with 12 kills and three aces.

East Bernard later narrowed the score to 19-11, but then Flatonia's Kelsey Williams stepped to the serving line. Four kills later, courtesy of Kayla Dunk, and Flatonia was looking at match point. Williams then stepped up to serve an ace and end the game.

Bev Kresta led the Brahmarettes offensive attack with eight kills. Terra Hlavinka finished with seven kills and 13 digs.

Haley Dawson added three kills. Candice Dusek contributed two kills and three assists, and Morgan Perez had three aces and 11 digs.

East Bernard starts playing for keeps on Tuesday when they host Hitchcock in the 27-2A opener.

"We are ready to start district," said Novicke. "We've played some tough matches and they showed us a lot."