Above, Lady Panther, Nikki Coleman hammers out a kill for a point in the regional quarter-final loss to Carthage last week at TJC’s, Wagstaff gymnasium. The Lady Panthes lost to the Lady Dogs in a hard-fought three games, taking them to a 26-24 score to clinch the win. At left, Ariel Hamby makes a dig for the Lady Panthers in the loss to Carthage. The loss ended the Lady Panthers with a 27-13 record on the season. Head coach Kala Morrow will have to replace eight seniors graduating from this year’s team. TYLER – The Bullard Lady Panthers volleyball season came to an end at the regional quarterfinals last week as the Carthage Lady Dogs won in three closely played games at Wagstaff Gymnasium on Tuesday night in a Class 3A Region III quarterfinal..

Carthage won by scores of 25-16, 25- 12, 26-24, to advance to the regional tournament in Bryan this past weekend.

The District 13-3A champion Lady Dogs (30-10) were led by Hali Turner with 16 kills and 19 digs in the win.

(Photos by Wolf Whitaker) Turner had seven of those kills in the first game.

The second game was all Lady Dogs as Christina Schubert, Hannah Hildebrand and Sarah Anderson kept up the pressure on the frontline.

The final game, the Lady Panthers did not go down without a fight as it took 14 ties in the game to decide a winner. Ties at 20, 21, 23 and 24 points had the crowd on their feet.

The Lady Panthers (27-13) were led by Valarie Roberts with 16 kills and 13 digs. Elisia Coleman added seven kills and 13 digs while Heather Camp set the floor with 15 assists.

“We showed our weaknesses and didn’t bounce back like we usually do,” BHS head coach, Kala Morrow said. “It was a disappointing loss because I think we all know that we didn’t play to the best of our potential. We’ve been to that level before, we’ve played that type of team before, and it’s not acceptable to play beneath your potential at playoff time.”

The Lady Dogs were losers in the area round last season to Groesbeck, and will now meet Caldwell on Friday night at Bryan High School in regional semifinals.

The Lady Panthers ended their season with a 27-13 mark, graduating eight seniors from this year’s squad.

“We had a great season, especially considering that so many people did not expect us to make it out of district play,” Morrow said about the season. “Our district was tough this year and I think that required our girls to become better volleyball players.”

Losing eight seniors may be hard to replace for next season, but the junior varsity had a great season.

“It’s hard to articulate just how special each of these kids is to me and how much they will be missed in our program,” Morrow said of her graduating class.

“Their accomplishments and accolades received have defined Bullard volleyball for the past three years, and they each bring a quality to the court that is definitely going to be hard to replace,” said Morrow of her seniors. “Each of these young ladies was influenced me in a very different way. They all have unique qualities and characteristics that have made my last three years at Bullard such a joy.

“I have enjoyed watching as they have developed into great volleyball players,” Morrow added, “as well as truly remarkable student-athletes, and inspiring young ladies. Our program has benefited immensely from their leadership and their commitment to athletic achievement and academic excellence. They have set the bar for future volleyball players in Bullard.”