At top, Ariel Hamby sets up a spike for Ashlee Shidler or Nikki Coleman against the Lady Bulldogs. Above, Coleman knocks down a kill against Chapel Hill in the district win. BULLARD - The Lady Panthers got 14 kills from Nikki Coleman, and 12 digs apiece from Valarie Roberts and Ashlee Shidler to pace Bullard to a three-game sweep over Chapel Hill to open up District 17-3A volleyball action on Saturday at Panther gymnasium.

Bullard (18-7; 1-0). won by scores of 25-17, 25-17, and 25-20.

Nine ties, and four lead changes highlighted the first match before Shidler pounded out two service aces to finish out the first match.

Coleman blasted out six of her kills in the second game as the Lady Panthers jumped to an 8-3 lead early and never trailed. The Lady Bulldogs battled back within 16-13, before Roberts, Brittany Glover and Coleman served out the win.

A much improved Chapel Hill (8- 15; 0-1) squad from one year ago, gave Bullard all they could handle the final game as nine ties, and five lead changes keep the game close.

(Banner Staff Photos by Doc Smith) Bullard’s Ariel Hamby ended the finale with two kills for the 25-20 game decider.

“Our district is going to be very competitive this year,” said Bullard head coach Kala Morrow. “We played well today but every team we play in district, anything can happen because all the teams are improved and Chapel Hill is going to upset some teams before it’s all over. I just hope one of those is not us when we go there.”

“But today we played some good, strong defense and we took advantage of some of their mistakes which is what you have to do to beat a well coached team,” Morrow concluded.

Coleman added on to her 14 kills with five digs, two aces, three assists, and one solo, while Roberts added 11 kills and two aces in with 12 digs.

Bullard’s, floor general, Heather Camp led with 21 assists, with nine digs, two kills and an ace. Shidler (12 digs, four kills, two aces), Glover rang up three solo blocks. Hamby added eight kills to five kills in the game.

Chapel Hill got 20 assists from Cameron Brown, and Charade Seaton and Baillie Bane each added seven kills apiece. Seaton also had four solo blocks and Marguerite Hampton made 16 digs.

Bullard won the junior varsity game, 25-17, and 25-12. The Lady Panthers also won the freshmen contest, 25-9-27-25.

In the freshman contest, Kristen Beam had 11 service points with five aces, and Linden Lee added six service points in the two-game sweep.

Bullard will play Tatum at home on Tuesday in league play. Chapel Hill will entertain Gilmer on Tuesday.

Bullard 3, Henderson 1

HENDERSON – The Bullard Lady Panthers defeated the Henderson Lady Lions last week, with scores of 25-16, 16-25, 25-16, 25-22.

The Lady Panthers opened strong earning 11 kills and six aces in the first game.

Bullard then dropped the second game behind the strong defense of the Lady Lions.

Bullard battled back the final two games behind Valarie Roberts, Brittany Glover and Nikki Coleman.

Roberts recorded 14 of the teams 41 kills, added six aces, and 10 digs, while Glover and Coleman added seven kills each. Coleman chipped in 20 digs and Glover added two aces.

Ashlee Shidler was a force upfront to lead the blockers with three solo blocks, and Heather Camp recorded 29 assists, 10 digs, and two aces.

Ariel Hamby added five kills and 16 digs in the win.

Both the Bullard JV and Freshmen teams lost.