HS VOLLEYBALL: Lady Dawgs drop season opener, bounce back with win over Comets

PHOTOS BY LISA McGINTY | LMc Photography

Dalton senior Vivi Cisar

Dalton senior Sarah Cross

By ARIEL STAHLER
DGKN sports writer

Dalton High School’s varsity volleyball team opened the 2022 season by hosting Hiland, but the Hawks left with the win. The Lady Dawgs next traveled to Central Christian School, where Dalton picked up its first win of the season for a 1-1 overall record.

The Lady Dawgs lost 25-12, 25-18, 27-21 to Hiland Aug. 23 at home in the season opener. Caroline Chubbuck led Dalton with seven points and two aces. Sarah Cross recorded five points and 25 assists. Vivi Cisar and Maclain Stutz both had eight kills. Kendall Maibach finished with five kills and 10 digs. Madalyn Coblentz was the top defender with 12 digs. Laura Schloneger had 10 digs.

Dalton faced Central Christian on the road Aug. 25 and the Lady Dawgs won 25-17, 25-9, 25-5. Schloneger was on top of her game with 15 points, eight aces and 11 digs. Coblentz totaled 12 points and one ace. Sydney Geiser ended with 11 points, one ace and 11 digs. Stutz finished with eight kills, while Victoria Oswald had seven kills. Cisar recorded five kills. Cross dished 22 assists. Maibach finished with 18 digs.

For the Comets, Sophia Rohrer had four points. Mattie Mast finished with seven kills. Clair Yost totaled five assists. Athena Bowers ended with 17 digs.

Central’s head coach Nate Holton gave praise to Dalton’s strength.

“Dalton is young, but athletic and talented,” said Holton. “They’re good and will only get much better. Allison Hostetler is the class of coaching in our area and continues to prove that each season with a strong program each year.”

Earlier in the week, Central traveled to Rittman on Aug. 23 and lost a hard-fought game 27-25, 25-18, 25-22. Mallory Immel finished with 11 points, six aces, five kills and 10 digs for the Comets. Bowers added eight points with one ace and 19 digs. Mast recorded five kills. Yost had nine assists.

“Each set was in the balance multiple times, but we could not find a way to finish it out,” said Holton. “A lot of that had to do with Rittman. Many of our girls saw great improvement from last night to tonight.”

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