Panthers end historic season with a defeat

Members of the Bullard Lady Panther varsity volleyball team are from left, front row, Whitney Worthen, Valarie Roberts and Erin Kitt. Second row, Whitney Lust, Allison Burton, Coach Sarah Dillingham, Mackenzie Morren and Elizabeth Rosebury. Back row, Ashley Davis, Ashley Moss and Calli Miller. The team lost to Pleasant Grove in the regional quarterfinals.

The most successful volleyball season in the history of Bullard High School came to an end Nov. 7 with a playoff loss.

The Lady Panthers, champions of district and area, lost in the Class 3A regional quarterfinals at Marshall High School to Texarkana Pleasant Grove. Bullard fell in three straight games by scores of 25-19, 25-11, 27-25 against the playoff veteran Lady Hawks.

Bullard, making its first playoff appearance on the regional level, got behind in the first game and could not recover.

The Lady Panthers were paced by the contribution of sophomore Calli Miller. Miller had 20 kills and six digs. Junior Whitney Lust turned in 21 assists and eight digs while senior Elizabeth Rosebury had four kills and three digs.

With the win, Pleasant Grove (31-8) advances to the Class 3A Region II tournament at Texas A&M Commerce for the seventh consecutive year. The squad has advanced to the state playoffs two years in a row.

Bullard head volleyball coach Sarah Dillingham acknowledged the experience of Pleasant Grove. The coach said that

Bullard is attempting to build such a tradition and got a good start with this playoff team.

Bullard won first place in the District 14- 3A race and secured the No. 1 seed by downing Brownsboro.

In area action, the Lady Panthers defeated Liberty-Eylau 21-25, 26- 24, 25-17, 25-16.

The season ends for Bullard with a 22-11 record.