East Buchanan volleyball drew a familiar opponent for its first-round playoff matchup — the Don Bosco Dons. The two teams met in last year’s playoffs, where the Dons came out on top. This year, the Buccaneers come into this game looking to upset Don Bosco with a record of 18-15.
The game began with a high level of momentum propelling both teams. East Buchanan got on the board early with a double block, but a serving error quickly returned the ball to the Dons. East Buchanan fought to get the ball back, but struggled on serve receive. As Don Bosco began to pull ahead, the Buccaneers knew something needed to change. A kill by sophomore Kamryn Stone helped shift the Bucs’ momentum as they started to close the gap on the scoreboard.
Stone and senior Kate Dolan paired up for a block, as the rest of the Buccaneers continued to communicate well in their positions. However, the ball was returned to Don Bosco, who would begin a large run midway through the first set. The Buccaneers couldn’t find an answer to the Dons’ dominating kills and ended the first set with Don Bosco on top 25-14.
Senior Sammi Isham started things out strong with a kill to advance the Bucs score. Stone followed with an ace from the service line. Senior Elsie Flexenhar and junior Addalyn Jones worked for another block to tie the game, and senior Adrie Dudley added a tip at the net to give East Buchanan the lead. Flexenhar added another ace, but despite the solid effort, the Buccaneers fell short 15-25.
The third set was packed with powerful swings and determined defense from both sides. East Buchanan came out strong, with Dolan setting the tone early by putting down a decisive kill to open the set. She added two more later on, keeping the momentum alive for the Buccaneers. Flexenhar contributed three key kills of her own, while Isham added another to help fuel East Buchanan’s offense.
Despite the Buccaneers’ energy and a string of intense volleys, Don Bosco managed to regain control late in the match. The Dons’ consistency and strong net play ultimately gave them the upper-hand, closing out the third set with a 25-16 win.
“I knew going up against Don Bosco was going to be a tough game, but we played good. It was one of our best games. We had great communication and played great as a team.” said senior, Elsie Flexenhar. “I had to play my heart out not only for myself but for my team. I knew it was probably my last time playing with my sister, who is a sophomore, and my friends. It was a different feeling.”
East Buchanan says goodbye to five seniors this season — Adrie Dudley, Ava Shannon, Elsie Flexenhar, Kate Dolan, and Sammi Isham. Each athlete has played an important role in the Buccaneers’ volleyball program — over the years, this group has brought skill, determination, and teamwork to the court.
“Volleyball has played a big role in my life. From watching my aunt play to just messing around with the ball. It has taught me so much in life. Volleyball is a game of ups and downs. A life skill
that I will always take with me from volleyball is to overcome your obstacles and become better through them.”