Brahmarettes snap 12-match skid against county rival Lady Bulldogs
By MIKE KONVICKA mkonvicka@journal-spectator. com

Staff photo by Mike Konvicka East Bernard's Hillary Blazek and Trisha Polak raise their hands over the net to block a hit from Boling's Jessica Moore during Tuesday's match. The Brahmarettes beat the Lady Bulldogs in three games to snap a 12- match losing streak against their Wharton County rivals.

EAST BERNARD - East Bernard's volleyball team had plenty of incentive to play for in Tuesday's match against Wharton County rival Boling in Brahma Gym.

Boling entered the contest with a 12-match winning streak over the Brahmarettes dating back to 2003.

The Brahmarettes knew that full well, as a newspaper clipping about the fact was taped up in their locker room.

"Some people wanted our players to know that it's been a while since we beat them," said EB second-year coach Kelly Novicke.

The Brahmarettes prevailed 25-18, 25-16, 25-12 to even their season record at 12- 12, while the Lady Bulldogs slipped to 4-11.

"This is our home court, and the girls have to start defending it," said Novicke. "This is our house, and the girls want to protect it. They proved that tonight. They knew that we are rivals, so that makes it big, too.

The 2003 Boling team beat East Bernard for the first time in the history of the series to snap a 25-plus match winning string by the Brahmarettes.

The Lady Bulldogs beat the Brahmarettes three times in 2004, twice in 2005 and 2006 and three times last year.

The win was the Brahmarettes' third straight, winning two matches in the Edna Cowgirl Classic Tournament on Saturday to claim the consolation trophy.

East Bernard built big leads in the second and third games and held those.

"That's something to be proud of," said Novicke. They stood tall the whole time."

'It's always a mental game for us, and it's going to be a huge confidence builder for my girls," said Novicke.

She was pleased with her back row players, Liz Reyes, Candice Dusek and Cameron Kieler.

"I told my back row that they have to be aggressive," said Novicke. "I felt like they were a threat tonight."

Varsity newcomer Brittney Wilcox only had one kill in the match, but she was all over the court diving for balls and making big plays.

"She has figured out the game," said Novicke. "She's reading, knows what's happening and she's there and going to get it."

The Brahmarettes took advantage of 10 Boling service errors and several hitting miscues throughout the 65-minute long match.

The first game was close early as the teams traded leads

With the scored tied at 9-9, East Bernard's Candice Dusek struck a service ace to put the Brahmarettes up for good.

A kill by Tara Hlavinka later made it a 15-11 game. The Brahmarettes then built leads of 19-13, and 23-16 before Dusek offered up another ace for game point.

Boling answered with three straight points, but an errant attack ended the game.

Brittney Wilcox's serving - which included another service ace - helped the Brahmarettes jump out to a 7-1 lead in the second game.

After Boling picked up two points, East Bernard answered with seven straight on the serving of Bev Kresta, making it 15-3.

A kill by Boling's Paige Bucek and a block by Kierra Jackson made it 15-5.

Two out-of-bounds attacks put the Brahmarettes up 17-5. After an East Bernard error, Kresta added a kill to make it 18-7.

Boling refused to quit and came back to make it 20-13 on a kill by Ebony Ashley.

East Bernard called time out. Kresta followed the break by slamming the ball to the court for a kill.

Brahmarette Morgan Perez then added a kill to bring the score to 23-14.

Boling's sixth service error later gave East Bernard game point. A kill by Jackson gave Boling its final point, but a kill by Dusek ended the game.

Boling took a 1-0 lead in the third game but East Bernard, on the serving of Hlavinka, answered with eight straight points.

The Lady Bulldogs battled back to make it 9-6 but the Brahmarettes answered with a12-2 run to go up 22-11.

Dusek served up five of those points and had an ace in the rally. Kresta had two kills.

Boling picked up it's final point and East Bernard answered with two to end the match.

East Bernard hitters totaled 21 kills in the match.

Kresta finished with nine, Tara Hlavinka added seven, and Hillary Blazek and Perez had three each.

Reyes, Wilcox, Polak, and Hlavinka had one each.

Wilcox also had 21 digs, and Dusek had 15. Reyes had nine, Kresta added five, Hlavinka had three and Morgan Perez and Cameron Kieler had one each.

East Bernard finished with eight solo blocks and 11 block assists.

Kresta had four solo blocks, Polak had two and Dusek and Blazek had one each.

Kresta and Blazek each had four blocking assists. Polak had two and Dusek had one.

East Bernard finished with 19 assists. Dusek had 12, Kieler had five and Blazek had two.

EB also had eight service aces in the match. Hlavinka and Wilcox had two each. Dusek, Reyes, Kresta and Kieler had one each.

For Boling, Jackson had three kills with six blocks and one dig.

Moore finished with five kills, three serving points, two blocks and four digs.

Ashley had six kills, two serving points, one block and eight digs. Bucek had two kills with three serving points, one assist four blocks and five digs.

Whitney Rachunek had two kills, two serving points, six assists and eight digs and sister Stephanie had one kill, four serving points, one bock and two digs.

Beth Llanas had five serving points and 12 digs. Kelli Ermis had nine digs and Joneva Jackson had one block and one assist.

East Bernard hosts Van Vleck Friday afternoon and visits Class 3A La Grange next Tuesday.

Boling hosted Weimar on Friday and entertains county r ival Louise on Tuesday.-

East Bernard's junior varsity beat Boling 25-8, 25-21 to improve to 5-3 on the season.

The Brahmarette freshmen