Lady Dolphins close season on winning note

The Dauphin Junior Lady Dolphins freshmen team picked up five wins to close the season, but none was bigger than the next to last.

The Lady Dolphins beat Providence Christian 16-25, 25-19, 15-11 – the first time they beat someone in the third set and the first time they beat Providence all year.

“They played awful in the first set. I told them ‘It’s all in your head. You guys can beat them,’” said Patsy Holland, Lady Dolphins head coach.

And beat them they did.

In the third set, Dauphin fell behind 3-0, but rallied to take a 5-3 lead.

They fell behind 8-6 and 9-8, but they tied the game at 9 apiece.

Emily Davis served two aces, and Holland said that gave the Lady Dolphins momentum.

In this season, the freshmen had lost al four games that reached a third set.

Only one of the losses, to Providence, came in two straight sets.

In the win, Caitlin Lee had nine service points, one aces and eight assists. Tahmya Newsome had three points, six kills and two blocks.

Hannah Thompson added eight points and one ace, while Davis had five points, three aces and a dig.

The win was part of a tri-match Thursday that closed the season.

In the second match, Dauphin defeated Houston Academy 25-16, 25-10.

Davis had 14 points, eight aces and one kill.

Lee had six points, three aces, seven assists

Patty Green and Newsome added four points, three aces and two kills each.

Dauphin had 25 aces in the match.

On Sept. 30, Dauphin defeated Geneva 25-7, 25-5.

Lee had 17 points and 12 aces, while Davis had 10 points and five aces.

Newsome added six points and three aces.

On Sept. 29, the Lady Dolphins beat Dothan25-19, 25-21 and Andalusia 25-13, 25-17.

Against Dothan, Lee had two points and eight assists. Newsome added 11 points, two aces and five kills.

Davis contributed nine points, six aces and a kill.

Against Andalusia, Newsome had six points, three aces, five kills and two blocks.

Lee contributed 13 points, seven aces and seven assists, while Courtney Walker added six points.

The Lady Dolphins freshmen finished the season with a 13-5 record.

“Skill-wise, we could’ve beat anybody. We had a little lack of confidence midway of the season,” Holland said.

Holland added the freshmen played like a team all year to achieve the good record.

“This team is a very vocal team. They are so encouraging. They’re just yelling and cheering,” she said. “They’re not self-centered. It’s just such a team effort, and that’s what made them so good.”

Eighth grade finishes strong

The eighth grade team finished their season 13-5 with a 25-15, 25-14 win over Geneva.

Deanna Gadzala had 11 points and three aces.

Sarah Tindol added eight points and five aces, while Lindsey Pomranky contributed six points and an ace.

“It’s a good base for next year,” Holland said of the season. “We’ve got a lot of work to do, especially in setting. Whoever sets has got big shoes to fill as Caitlin (Lee) was phenomenal.”