Broncbusters sweep Allen; improve to 3-1

Garden City, KS-The Broncbusters didn't drop a single set on Saturday.  

Jelena Milovanovic led the way with 14 kills, Vitoria Stedile had 19 digs, and Garden City blanked Allen 25-21, 25-20, and 25-15 at the second annual Scooters Invitational. With the win, the Broncbusters improved to 3-1 overall. 

"This was our best passing game of the four," Head Coach, Patrick Hiltz said afterwards. "It wasn't great, but we did a lot of good things." 

Tola Maczka had 28 assists and 12 digs, and Apolline Lepuissant chipped in 10 kills for Garden City, which has dropped only one set in their first three victories.  

At the start, the Broncbusters looked like a team that was playing their fourth match in two days. But after trailing by as many as three in the opening set, Garden City scored six straight points, capped by Milovanovic's block that put the home team up 17-13. Once Allen fought back to tie it, Garden City found its footing, closing the frame on an 8-3 surge to take a 1-0 lead. 

"There are still a lot of things that we would like to clean up," Hiltz said. "But overall, it was a really good showing."

The Broncbusters were never really challenged in the second set. Maczka's left-handed tip gave Garden City a 10-4 advantage, and Lepuissant's crosscourt kill gave the home squad a seven-point cushion, their largest of the set. 

"This team has shown a lot of fight and spirit in the first four matches," Hiltz added. "That's what I love about them."

The Broncbusters wasted no time putting the Red Devils out of their misery in the third. Pinar Dugeroglu's kill following by Maczka's block gave Garden City a 17-9 lead. In fact, the only drama in the set came when Julia Brazil and Carly Lang crashed into one another chasing down a free ball near the scorers' table. But the two appeared okay as the rally continued. Brazil then dusted herself off, provided a powerful spike; then closed the match with a service ace.