Pick up their teammates.

That was the goal Friday night for Bland’s eighth-grade Lady Bear volleyball team after their seventh-grade counterparts were swept in two sets by Owensville, 25-10 and 25-7.

Losing a close first set 25-22 to the visiting Dutchgirls, Bland’s eighth-grade Lady Bears battled back to win the next two sets to take the match in three sets by scores of 22-25, 25-15 and 15-10.

Jumping out to a 4-0 lead in game one on four service points from Saige Garner, Bland suddenly saw themselves trailing 7-6 before Piper Marsee helped the Lady Bears to a 10-7 lead near the midway point of game one.

Aside from an Adalyn Walters ace and a Marsee kill, Bland was not able to get into an offensive rhythm before dropping a close first set to Owensville.

Trailing 6-4 early in game two, Walters put the Lady Bears on her shoulders serving four aces among the next seven points helping Bland to an 11-6 lead midway through the second set.

Seeing the Dutchgirls get back to within two points at 15-13, service runs from Lydia Jones, Marsee and Walters helped Bland even the match at a set apiece.

Down 7-6 midway through the third and deciding set, Walters came through again serving three aces out of eight points helping the Lady Bears end their season on a winning note in three sets over Owensville.

Adding that victory to their three-set win over Hermann earlier in the season gave Bland Gasconade County middle school volleyball bragging rights for a year.

Additional Lady Bears on the eighth-grade team not previously mentioned include Anastyn Lansford Cylee Reed, Ava Feeler and Nolie Finnegan.

Prior to the eighth-grade match, Bland’s seventh-grade Lady Bears had a challenge on their hands with the 15-0 Owensville seventh-grade Dutchgirls making the short trek west on Highway 28 to Bland.

Trailing early in both sets, the Lady Bears simply had no answer for Owensville’s balanced team attack.

Falling 25-10 and game one, Bland got a service point each from Alexis Stockton and Grace Locklin. Stockton also recorded a kill giving Bland their 10th point.

Elayna White served the opening point of game two before an error allowed Owensville to score eight of the next nine points leaving the Lady Bears trailing 9-2 in game two.

Scoring the remainder of their points on Owensville service errors, Bland ended their season seeing Owensville cap an undefeated 16-0 campaign.

Seventh-grade Lady Bears also on the roster throughout the season included Layla Workman, Makayla Jones, Madison Demos, Peyton Lansford, Skylee Railey, Rashel Cox and Aubrey Reed.

Bland Middle School will wrap up their sports season this school year with several track and field meets throughout the months of March, April and May.