On Tuesday, October 30, Alliance High School hosted the district B8 sub-districts tournament. The Bulldogs faced the Scottsbluff Bearcats, and the Gering Bulldogs faced the Sidney Raiders for a chance to play in the championship game. Scottsbluff and Gering both fell short to their opponent in 3 sets. At approximately 7 PM, the Alliance Bulldogs went head to head with the Sidney Raiders for the title of sub-district championship.

Ranked 4th in the state, with a 28-5 record, the Alliance volleyball team has been preparing for this moment. Not only did the team come to the court with determination, but also confidence. Before the game, Ryley Rolls, #31 on the court and a Laramie County Community College commit, said, “We are all wanting to win, and that will be the outcome.” When asked how they’ve been preparing to play, Ryley said, “We’ve practiced really hard and worked really hard since summer started. We are ready.”

They were ready indeed. The Alliance Volleyball team started the night off right with a win over Scottsbluff that eventually led them to the championship game. The championship game consisted of Alliance against one of their main rivals, the Sidney Raiders.

After losing 25-16 and 25-22 in the first two sets of the championship, the Alliance Volleyball team did what they had to do to reverse the game. Emersen Cyza, a University of Wyoming commit, said, “Our blocking and attacking was a little rough the first two sets but we turned that around.” The last three sets of the game truly showed the commitment and diligence from the Bulldogs. They came back winning 25-17, 25-22, and 15-12 in the last three sets. Rolls said, “I think we could’ve definitely cut down on errors in the first and second set. We did that in the third, fourth, and fifth, and it turned out well. We played hard and I think we had fewer errors, and we were ready to win.”

Instead of giving up like a lot of other teams would have, Alliance fought throughout the night despite their rough first two sets. Cyza said, “We overcame so much adversity in that match. We were down 0-2 sets and came back fired up.”

Unofficial stats show that Rolls landed 15 kills alongside Cyza with 26 kills. They did this with the help of their two setters: Shelby Mills and Megan Oligmueller. Mills had 12 assists and Oligmueller had 18. Jordan Hopp blocked 4 balls, hit 5 kills, and had the game winning tip. Khloe Felker, the teams libero, passed 24 digs. Blythe Boness had 2 kills and 3 blocks. Altogether, the ladies had 8 aces. The team consists of proactive players who are all dedicated to the sport, and when you put all their fight, determination, and talent together, this team has great outcomes. They earned the championship title.

An advantage the team has: chemistry. This is shown on, and off, the court. Jordan Hopp, a 6’3 junior who has committed to Iowa State University, said “Our team chemistry is the best it has been in years. It is so strong. We all have a special bond with one another that helps a lot.” Their love for each other and the sport helped win that game. When asked what she is most proud of, Jordan said, “I am most proud that we did not give up the 3rd set. I am so proud of all my teammates for playing so well. I love them all.”

Their team is known for not backing down. They have a phenomenal record of 28-5 and now will be competing for a spot at the state tournament this Saturday, November 3, at 11 am against the Bennington Badgers. The crowd, the student section, the cheerleading squad, and the band created a great atmosphere for the girls at subdistricts, and hopefully it will be the same on Saturday.

The fight is nowhere near over, and the girls will continue to work hard and prepare to play Saturday. Rolls said, “We’re going to work very, very hard. We will be practicing hard, just so we can win Saturday, and then be traveling to state next week. We are very excited and are definitely going to take this opportunity that we have.”

Since the Alliance Bulldog’s volleyball team is boasting with great harmony, positivity, and persistence on and off the court, they are expected to play hard on Saturday. No matter the outcome, they have had a phenomenal season, and Alliance High School is proud to have such a positive and proficient team representing us.

Good job and good luck ladies!