DOUGLAS – The Wheatland High School junior varsity and varsity volleyball teams traveled to Douglas for their first tournament of the season. The WHS C-Team also traveled to their first tournament in Newcastle. Our younger girls competed in pool play in the morning and then qualified for the gold bracket losing to Campbell County High School in the first round.
Both JV and varsity teams played three matches each day at Douglas. The format consisted of pool play on Friday and bracket play on Saturday. The junior varsity plays whoever the varsity plays no matter what outcome of the JV’s own matches. The WHS varsity gals went 5-1 on the weekend and teed off against the Bearcats of Douglas on their home court in the championship match of the gold bracket. The junior varsity won three matches outright and split three matches.
In pool play WHS faced the No. 1 ranked 2A team in the state, the Rams of Big Horn. It was a great battle and went extra points with the Bulldogs on top 28-26, 28-26. The second match of the day was against the Dogies of Newcastle, Wheatland put the pedal down and defeated them 25-10, 25-14. The last match of the day was against the Alliance Bulldogs. Our gals were a little tired but pulled out a victory in three sets: 25-20, 23-25, 15-7. The 3-0 start put our Lady Bulldogs in the gold bracket facing Buffalo in the first match on Saturday. Buffalo wouldn’t go down easy in the second set, but our lady spikers finished on top in two sets: 25-16, 25-23.

The semi-final game was against the Blazers of Torrington at Douglas High School. After a close first set with a score of 25-23, our Bulldogs served tough and defended well, finishing the second 25-14 and earning a berth to the championship against Douglas.
A long weekend consisting of six matches wore on our girls as they faced the number-three ranked team in 3A. WHS finished second with a loss in two sets at 12-25, 20-25.
Coach Sally Nichols was pleased with the start to the season and stated, “Douglas is hosting the regional tournament this season, so it was great for our teams to compete on that court multiple times. Our program goal is to earn a 20-win season and make the regional championship match, qualifying for the 3A State Tournament. We hope that getting a preview of four of our regional opponents will help our confidence and help us strategize for the postseason.”
The WHS JV and varsity volleyball teams will be traveling to Gillette for a two-day tournament on Sept. 6th and 7th. This week the C-Team has a break, they will travel to Buffalo on Sept. 14th for a tournament.