The Times - Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley

PASCO - The Lady Bull­dogs fought hard to remain in playoff contention, but the effort wasn't quite enough to get them past Davenport or TriCities Prep this weekend.

"Overall, we had a good season and I see a lot of improvement in individual players," head coach Shan­non

Turner said about her young team. "It was a good experience to play at the District 7 & 9 Regional Tournament and will help us for next year."

Dayton lost both games that could have advanced them to state. The girls lost in three against Davenport 25-9, 25-23 and 25-16, and also fell in three against Tri- Cities Prep.

"We started out slow and nervous in the first set against Davenport but picked it up in Game 2 and competed," Turner said. "We hung in there for game 3, but they pounded the ball and played a much quicker offense."

Defensively, Lexie Ramirez, Sarah Phillips and Courtney Mings with help from Jenna Phillips "kept us in the game," the head coach said. "Courtney and Lexie led our offense with the most kills and Chelsea Wooldridge put up 18 as­sists."

Jenna Phillips led her team in serving 12 for 12 and had 3 aces.

"Davenport is a solid team all around and should place in the top 4 at State, so I was pleased that the girls stepped up and competed in the second and third games," Turner said.

Courtney Mings had 6 kills, 10 digs, 1 block and served 2 for 2. Sarah Phillips had 10 digs and served 5 for 6. Wooldridge had 9 for 9 from the line, 1 kill and 4 digs. Ramirez was also 9 for 9 with 14 digs and 5 kills. Madison Mings was 8 for 8 serving, and had 4 kills, 2 blocks and 2 digs.

Dayton's performance against TriCities Prep, a team that dogged her girls all season, was somewhat less impressive, Turner said.

"We didn't put enough stats on the board either of­fensively or defensively in this match," she said. "We did not play aggressive or together and that hurt us."

Only in the third game, did the Lady Dogs come close with a 25-20 score.

Courtney Mings served 5 for 5, had 4 kills and 5 digs. Sarah Phillips was 6 for 6 on the line, had 7 digs and 1 kill. Wooldridge was 6 for 6 in serving, had 13 assists, 4 digs and 1 kill. Ramirez was 11 for 13 with 7 digs, 3 kills and 1 assist. Bryeana Myrick posted 6 blocks and 1 kill. Madison Mings was 6 for 9 serving, had 5 digs, 1 block and 1 dig. Jenna Phillips was 9 for 9 on the line with 7 digs and 1 kill. Taylor Frame had 6 digs.

Turner praised Captain Courtney Mings, the team's lone senior, whom she said "had a great all around sea­son."

The elder Mings "played consistent and smart on court," Turner said. "She was our second stat leader in both kills and digs for the season and tied as #1 server in overall percentage."