BERNE — It has been a frustrating season for the Berne-Knox-Westerlo girls’ volleyball team and its coach,Cathy Allen.

The Lady Bulldogs have a record of 4-9 but a lot of the matches have been close contests — including Tuesday’s loss to Schoharie.
"Most of our matches have gone four or five sets," Allen said. "We won our first two matches of the year. They have been long matches.
"We were out there for two-and-a-half hours today and we went five [sets] with them before," Allen said on Tuesday. "We went five sets with Duanesburg and we went five with Schenectady Christian. In most of the games, we have not been blown out. We have lost three matches in three games. We have trouble staying focused and finishing."

That was evident on Tuesday as the Bulldogs held on to win the fourth set and force a fifth and deciding set.

In the final game, BKW took an early lead — the biggest at 6-2 — but Schoharie came back to tie the game at 7-7 and took the lead at 8-7 and never looked back.

The Indians won the final set by a score of 25-15.

Putting it together

BKW has five seniors and five juniors on the 10-player roster. Six of the 10 players are returning from last year.
"We serve well and we have a couple of hitters in Meghan Leonard and Kristen Spinnato," Allen said.

Of the four girls who were brought up from the junior varsity, Sarah Hallenbeck has made a major contribution. Hallenbeck has played a big role in the setter position.

Leonard along with Heather Plouffe, Tracy Williams, Kerri Rossback, and Danielle Theilson from the senior group of players. Athena Kelly, Liz Hallenbeck, Heather McCormick, Sarah Hallenbeck, and Spinnato are the juniors on the roster.

Allen schedules a lot of tough teams in non-league games; there are also some tough teams in the Western Athletic Conference.
"It’s not just in the league," Allen said. "We play Maple Hill and Hoosic Valley. We are also in the Argyle Tournament this weekend. Glens Falls, Saratoga, Ballston Spa, Hoosic Valley, Broadalbin-Perth, and Lake George are there. It’s a very tough tournament."

Glens Falls, Saratoga, Ballston Spa, and Broadalbin-Perth have much larger enrollments than BKW. Hoosic Valley and Lake George are two of the top teams in Class C, which is the same size as BKW.

The Lady Bulldogs have had their moments this season. One was in a match they lost in three games against a skilled team.
"Against Spa Catholic we played so well," Allen said. "We lost in three games but they were well-played. I said to the girls, ‘If we play like that against other teams, we win in three games.’ One day, they play well and others they don’t."

The season is nearing an end for the Bulldogs. They won’t be going to the Section II Class C playoffs because they need a .500 record and won’t be able to reach that mark.
"It’s about passing, receiving serves, and generating things," Allen said. "We just need to put those things together."