The Shakamak volleyball team dominated Dugger Union in the first round of the Class 1A Sectional 61 tournament on Thursday at White River Valley. The Lakers swept the Bulldogs in three sets, winning 25-13, 25-16, and 25-9.
“It’s a good start for us to prepare for Saturday,” said Shakamak head coach Emeral Goff. “We had a long break, and the girls were eager to play. Now, we need to focus on Clay City.”
With the win, the Lakers improved their overall record to 17-7. They will face Clay City in the semifinals of the sectional tournament on Saturday at 12:30 p.m. The Eels narrowly defeated the Lakers three sets to two on October 7.
“They’re a tough team,” Goff said of the Eels. “They want this win as much as we do. Last season, we took it from them in sectionals, so I’m sure they will come out strong.”
Goff emphasized the importance of energy and confidence as the Lakers prepare for their next match. She noted that staying focused is key, especially when facing challenges during the game.
“We need to find ways to battle through tough moments,” Goff said. “Instead of having ups and downs, we have to maintain high energy on the court. That’s what motivates us. When the girls rally together, we can dominate.”
Dugger Union finished the season with a 5-22 record. Bulldogs head co-coach Amanda Parr acknowledged that facing Shakamak was not the matchup they had hoped for.
“Definitely wasn’t the season we wanted,” Parr said. “We struggled with confidence in games. But I’m proud of our underclassmen and freshmen, who performed well under pressure.”
Parr also praised her five seniors: Hillary Flores, Jordyn Smith, Arianna Frazee, Caitlynne Henico, and Kylie Gerig. She noted that Flores played well on Thursday and that Smith excelled in the back row.
“I’m sad for the seniors after their final game,” Parr said. “We’ve coached this group for a long time. They’ve been a part of our program for four years, and I will miss them.”
Looking ahead to next season, Parr expects 2025 to be a rebuilding year due to the loss of five seniors. However, she is optimistic about the underclassmen stepping up.
“It will be a transition year, but we have many girls eager to play,” Parr said. “Next year, we will have one senior, with most being sophomores and freshmen. We’re excited to see how they develop. Our eighth graders are also ready to join the varsity team.”
Shakamak Stats:
Kills: Bralyn Calvert 7, Brylee Faulk 6, Ayanna Clark 6, Jordyn Boram 4, Isla Kaufman 3, Madelyn Kennett 2, Jaedyn Boram 1
Aces: Kennett 2, Jama Ewers 2, Jordyn Boram 1
Blocks: Clark 3
Digs: Kennett 7, Faulk 6, Peyton Gambill 4, Calvert 1, Ewers 1, Jordyn Boram 1, Ava McCrary 1
Assists: Ewers 17, Jaedyn Boram 8
Dugger Union Stats:
Kills: Hillary Flores 7, Jordyn Smith 3, Arianna Frazee 2, Isabella Cole 1, Sage Stahl 1, Jalee Brumbarger 1
Aces: Smith 1, Cole 1
Digs: Smith 15, Flores 8, Caitlynne Henico 6, Kylie Gerig 6, Stahl 1, Brumbarger 1
Assists: Brumbarger 11, Stahl 1, Frazee 1, Smith 1
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