Broncbusters fall to Dodge City in four sets

By Mike Pilosof

Photo by Adam Shrimplin

Garden City, KS-Garden City needed at least one win in their final two matches to clinch a playoff spot. But after Wednesday's result, their chances of making the postseason took a major hit.

Martyna Kmuk posted 19 kills, Hilary English added nine, and Dodge City toppled Garden City in four sets 16-25, 25-20, 13-25, 18-26. The loss dropped the Broncbusters to 8-24 overall and 1-14 in conference. They remain a game back of Pratt with a matchup with No. 3 Butler looming in the regular-season finale on Friday.

The Conquistadors opened an early three-point lead in the first set following a Teagan Mendoza-Werner block. Kmuk added a stop at the net, Anita Vallecas-Rodriguez executed a perfect attack, and Dodge City was up, 22-16. They scored the final four points of the set.

But the Broncbusters responded in a big way in the second set. Trailing by two early, Giorgia Cappelletti recorded a kill, McKenna Jagels added a powerful spike, and Garden City was up four, 18-14. Cappelletti then followed with a pair of spikes and an ace, Remi Vargas setup Vanja Stefanovic, who powered one crosscourt, and Hannah Brandt fired a kill down the middle to even the match, 1-1.

Dodge City answered with a route in the third; then broke open an 11-11 game with an 9-4 run that forced Patrick Hiltz to call a timeout. Kmuk followed with three kills over the final five points to give the Conquistadors a 3-1 victory. It was Dodge City's sixth win in their last 10 matches.

Cappelletti led the Broncbusters with 17 kills, and Vargas had 40 assists.

Next up: Garden City vs. Butler-Friday, Oct. 29-4:30 p.m.