The Times - Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley

DAYTON - It was a good week for the Dayton Bulldogs volleyball team. The girls beat Walla Walla Valley Academy on Thurs­day, after cruising to victory over the DeSales Irish last Tuesday.

"Everyone has been con­tributing, which has paid off for us with wins," head volleyball coach Shannon Turner said. "These girls have really stepped the last three matches which has made a big difference."

Dayton won at home against DeSales in straight sets, 25-21, 25-20 and 25- 12. Madison Mings had 13 kills,six blocks and 12 digs, while her sister Courtney racked up 13 digs and 10 points from the service line.

Turner said her team won with an even-handed attack and fundamentally sound playing.

"We played well, we played together and every­one contributed," she said. "We kept momentum on our side by cutting our unforced errors in half from our pre­vious matches."

Turner said her Lady Dogs also played "smarter and tougher" at the net.

Chelsea Wooldridge dished out 22 assists and added 11 digs. Jocelyn Ful­lerton scored 13 points and finished with five kills. Ful­lerton was 16 for 18 serving on the line and had six digs.

The Lady Dogs won in four against the Knights on Thursday. Turner said it was a "great competitive match" and a "sweet win for Dayton.

" WWVA is always tough," she noted. "We didn't beat them last year. They have several girls who play club volleyball so they get a lot more floor time year round than we do since most of our girls are three- sports athletes."

Turner said Lexi Ramirez had her high for the season for the season Thursday with 15 digs and 9 points for her team. Sarah Phil­lips had "an outstanding" 26 digs and was 12 for 12 from the serving line. Br­yeana Myrick "got big and strong at the net" with three kills and four blocks, while Jenna Phillips had three kills "right when we needed them," the head coach said. The younger Phillips had "one big block and seven digs."

Mings was 15 for 15 serving, ,had 5 kills and 19 digs; Woolridge matched those numbers serving, had 28 assists, 14 digs and two kills; Madison Mings had 11 points, six kills, three blocks and 14 digs; and Ful­lerton was 16 for 16 serving, registered one kills and six digs.

"They're just playing well," Turner told the Walla Walla Union Bulletin after her team's victory over the Irish. "They're playing with a lot of intensity and they play well together."