Working through Week 3 of their 2025 volleyball schedule, the Lady Dragons tallied up a number of games and wins, but most importantly, crucial experience that will lead them through the remainder of this season in a big way.  Over the week of games, the MHS team faced 9 opponents at home and away, played 10 matches where they won a total of 19 games.  

Malad began their week of play as they hosted district rival, the West Side Pirates in their first district matchup of the season on Wednesday, September 10.  The Pirates put up a fight to begin the match, keeping pace on points with the Lady Dragons.  But nearly halfway through the opening game, Malad began to pull away and clearly dominate the court.

Liv Nelson played at the service line, serving 10 consecutive serves before West Side gained possession.  It was a team effort to keep Nelson there.  Brynnlee Jones found a sweet spot as she hit a deep line hit that the Pirates were never able to adjust to.  Mady Vanbebber played a scrappy game from the middle blocker position.  The junior dropped blocks at the net, popped up short hits, and even skated the attack to swing around a point winning hit that otherwise would have dropped in Malad territory.

Up 24-10 and needing just one point to end the first game, the Lady Dragons faltered, shanking a well hit spike from the Pirates out of bounds.  West Side managed two more points before Malad capped the game with a final point.  That last score was well earned as both teams rallied back and forth across the net.  Quincee Hammer and Paityn Ward had several key digs with Jones and Vanbebber attacking at the net.  It was the solo block by Izzy Haycock that finally put a stop to the West Side attack.

Game 2 began just where Malad had left off, the game clearly in their control.  The Lady Dragons didn’t have just one magical moment or only one key player to take and keep the lead throughout the game.  It was a consistent collective effort of good passing, communication, and attacking that led them to win the second set of the match 25-14.

The Lady Dragons built up an impressive lead to start the third game of the night, going up 9-1 before the Pirates were able to tack up additional points to the scoreboard.  But they were never able to make up the deficit that continued to grow.  With the score at 24-12 and match point,  setter Haycock popped up the set just behind her.  Middle hitter, Nelson, streaked past her on the attack line to hit an unsuspected slide for a final kill to end the game.

Thursday, September 11 saw Malad hit the road for their first game of many away from home for the upcoming three weeks.  Traveling to Aberdeen to take on the Tigers, the Lady Dragons were nothing if not quick to claim another win.  The MHS team came out strong as ever in their first game to win 25-8.  The Tigers put a few more balls down in Dragon territory before Malad won 25-12 in the second game of the match, ending the game with a Nelson-Haycock double block.

Aberdeen came out determined in game 3, so much so that they took the lead midway through the game, 11-8.  But then the Lady Dragons settled into their rhythm to put up 17 points while only allowing the Tigers 4 more points.  Taking possession of the serve with the score at 19-15, the MHS stacked up 6 consecutive points to claim the win for the final game.  

While Aberdeen had lent to their points with errors, the Lady Dragons earned their victory with strategic tipping, well placed serving, and aggressive hitting.  

Over the weekend, Malad competed in the Mountain View tournament held in Boise.  Head Coach Camie Tripp saw the tournament as an opportunity to both see some tough competition as well as face teams they might go up against in the post season tournaments.  Seeing teams from Council, Wendell, Victory Charter, Nampa Christian, The Ambrose School, Oakley, and Horseshoe Bend high schools, they were able to meet both goals.  

Over the two day competition, the Lady Dragons played a total of 17 games in 7 matches, only dropping 4 games in all.  The Ambrose School and Horseshoe Bend teams gave Malad the greatest challenges of the game, dropping the games 0-2 and 1-2.  But as they faced the other teams, the Lady Dragons went 12-0, sweeping the remainder of their games.

Even though the competition was tough, some of the toughest challenges of the game came from within.  Coach Tripp said, “Saturday was a hard day!  I think we were tired... it was just a long week.”

Despite some issues throughout the tournament, Coach Tripp says, “We had another great week from Liv, Paityn, and Izzy.  Our defense was solid.  We just need to finish stronger.”

Hopefully they are able to figure out things as they find themselves with another full week ahead.  The MHS team will take on opponents in Declo and Soda Springs before participating in a third tournament for the season held in Idaho Falls.