Going to the net — Newcastle opens season with five matches

The Newcastle High School volleyball team opened its season with five matches at the Douglas Invitational on Aug. 28-29. The Dogies faced a challenging first-day schedule, falling in two sets to No. 1-ranked Big Horn, 25-9 and 25-21, before dropping a 25-22, 25-18 decision to Wheatland. Newcastle closed the day with its closest match, taking the second set from Scottsbluff, Nebraska, before falling 25-16, 22-25 and 15-13.

The Dogies bounced back Saturday to win both of their Pool D matches. They swept Burns 25-13 and 25-21, then rallied after losing the opening set against Wright. Newcastle took the second set 25-18 and edged Wright 15-13 in the deciding set to complete the comeback.

Newcastle finished the two-day tournament with a 2-3 record. After dropping all three matches Friday, the Dogies won four of five sets Saturday and came away with two victories. Their only two three-set matches of the weekend were decided by two points in the final set, with Newcastle falling just short against Scottsbluff before turning the tables in its win over Wright.

This week, Newcastle will host a C-team triangular Sept. 3 before the varsity team competes at the Gillette Invite Sept. 4-5.

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