Dexter staves off Puxico

Jerry Jarrell photo - Dexter's Jessica Satterfield attempts a kill during Monday's 25-22, 25-23 win at home over the Puxico Lady Indians. Puxico's Jillese Slaughter (No. 25) watches the play develop.

Dexter fell behind by as many as eight points early in Game 1, but managed to rally for a 25-22 win, then Puxico rode the momentum of their narrow loss to take Game 2 down to the wire before falling, 25-23.

Puxico seemed poised for the win in the opening game between conference rivals, leading 13-5 after a service winner by Hannah Wight. the turning point of the game could have come with the score standing at 15-9, when Dexter's Jessica Satterfield knocked down one of her eight kills after a long back-and-forth rally that saw both team's make point-saving digs.

Cathryn Heil followed the rally with a service winner to make it a 15-11 Puxico lead, but the home crowd could sense a come-back in the making.

Kristen Pratt scored a kill off a Dexter defender (16-11), but Satterfield again answered with a kill to make it a 4-point game, 16-12. Nonne Cummins followed with a block for Puxico before Abbie Warren' kill return service to the Lady 'Cats.

Elisha Flanigan was at the line for Dexter as Warren again scored at the net (17-13), Flanigan added a service winner and Warren delivered a big block on a kill attempt by Sara Holloway to make it a 1-point Puxico game, 17-16.

Puxico coach Karen Hazel called for a time-out to rally her troops, but Warren again delivered a big kill off a poor pass by the Lady Indians left the ball net high to tie the game at 17-all. Warren gave Dexter the lead on the next point with a kill, Satterfield scored with a block and Warren again took advantage of a poor pass for a 21-17 Dexter advantage.

Puxico would regroup, but couldn't make up the deficit as Dexter held on for the 3-point win.

Game 2 also saw Puxico jump out to quick 3-0 lead, but Dexter began to take control at the net and managed to tie the game at 8-all. Neither team could manage more than a 1-point advantage until Dexter strung three together to make it 18-14 as Brittani Little ended the run with a kill ((18-15).

Both teams again went back-and-forth and when Kristen Pratt knocked one down late to pull Puxico even at 22-all.

Both teams traded points (23-23) before Heil pushed the ball to an opening in the Lady Indians' defense and Brittany Bedford delivered a service winner to end the game in Dexter's favor, 25-23.

"We played sluggish tonight (Monday), but we are proud of the conference win," Dexter coach Kris Vandeven stated. "Puxico has really good, aggressive serves that gave our passing game quite a bit of trouble. Things just weren't clicking for us, but we did just enough to pull off the win."

Satterfield and Warren both finished with eight kills while Heil added six and a team-highs in digs with 11 and assists with 11. Warren was charted with five blocks, while Satterfield had three.

With the win, Dexter improved to 16-5-3 overall and 6-1 in SCAA play.

The junior varsity Lady 'Cats opened the night with a 25-22, 25-19 win to improve to 13-2-2 on the season, 5-1 in league action.