After capturing the first set, 25-22 to River Ridge, The Lady Bulldogs volleyball squad dropped three straight.
The 2021 season has been a struggle for Zephyrhills as they fall 70 1-17 on the season.
After taking the first set, the lady Bulldogs were roughed up by the Knights 25-11 to knot the score at one set apiece. The third set saw the Bulldogs relinquish a late lead. The teams were knotted at 25-25 before the Knights took the set 28-26.
The fourth set saw a tight match before the Knights were able to pull away late for a 25-20 win to take the match 3-1.
Seniors Maya Llanes and Aamahri Lewis played strong ahead of underclassmen Tiara Sands, Bryanna O’Malley, Sabrina Calhoun, Payton Leidy, Tessa Starnes and Mikala Geiger.
“I think this is one of those season where, man you feel bad because you wish the program had the attention for the last four years that it needed,” said ZHS first-year head coach Emily Frazer. “It is a missed opportunity for some of these girls especially those seniors.”
Frazer said the younger players are the future of the program and the future looks bright.
“I’m glad I have a young team.” Frazer said. “The majority of them are young. The beauty of it is the young girls are creating the mindset and creating the culture.
“The teams in the past got comfortable losing, My younger kids are saying enough is enough.”
History will be made at the Bulldogs next home match as the Zephyrhills Christian Academy Warriors come into the Dog House Monday, Oct. 11. This will be the first time Zephyrhills High School and ZCA have met in any sport.
To add to the atmosphere, the Lady Bulldogs will celebrate its six seniors during a senior night program before the game.
“It will be nice,” Frazer said. “I think they all can go out know knowing they learned a lot this season. I know their record doesn’t reflect it, I think the ones going out know they truly played the game of volleyball.”