BOURBON — Opening their season last week with a two-set home win over Steelville last Tuesday night and a loss in two sets at Owensville two nights later, Bland’s ‘A’ Lady Bear volleyball team competed Saturday in the Bourbon Middle School “A Team” Volleyball Tournament played at Bourbon High School.

Swept by Bourbon in their opening match of round-robin action 25-23 and 25-21, Bland then faced Cuba’s Lady Wildcats splitting that contest taking game one 25-24 before falling 25-23 in the second set.

Against Sullivan in the final match before the championship contest, Bland dropped game one 25-24 before taking game two 25-22 over Sullivan helping Cuba get into the championship match ahead of Sullivan thanks to the head-to-head point differential tiebreaker.

Bourbon went on to defend their home court winning the tournament title in two sets over Cuba by scores of 25-13 and 25-21.

In game one against Bourbon, Charleigh Elrod recorded served up two aces and recorded a kill while McKenna Norris added a pair of service points.

Reagan Gehlert recorded a pair of kills and service points in game two against Bourbon while Elrod also had two more kills.

Winter Hatfield served a pair of points while Gehlert and Bree Butler also served one point apiece.

In Bland’s match against Cuba, Elrod recorded a pair aces while Gehlert served four points before Emmalynn Flowers served the final five points of game one helping the Lady Bears take the first set from the Lady Wildcats.

Serving the first seven points of game two, Gehlert helped the Lady Bears to an early 13-5 lead in game two before Hatfield also served up an ace.

Emrie Fredendall and Norris both added another ace late in game two for the Lady Bears.

During their final tournament match against Sullivan, Elrod had three service points, two aces and a kill to go along with a kill and an ace from Gehlert.

Game two against Sullivan saw Fredendall serve four points which included an ace in addition to two kills.

Gehlert added three kills to her match total helping Cuba into the championship match.

On the road Monday night at New Haven, Bland will see additional road action tomorrow (Thursday) night at Cuba before hosting Dixon at Bland Middle School (BMS) with the ‘B’ team match beginning at 5:30 p.m.

Bland’s ‘B’ Team Lady Bears will get their first taste of tournament action this Saturday in Steelville’s 7th Grade Volleyball Tournament in the Steelville Elementary School and Steelville Middle School gyms.

Pool play for the Lady Bears will take place in the SES gym starting at approximately 9:45 a.m., against Lesterville before facing Cuba at 11:15 a.m., and Bourbon at noon.