VOLLEYBALL UPDATE: DEWEY IS 19-5; BARTLESVILLE PLAYS IN YUKON; WCS EYES SENIOR NIGHT THURSDAY
Bartlesville High School’s Ava Smith (32) passes the ball while Mia Johnson (5) looks on during an earlier season match. The Lady Bruins are 18-14.
BECKY BURCH/Bartlesville Area Sports
Dewey High School’s Kaylee Cole (15) passes the ball during an earlier season match. The Lady Bulldoggers are 19-5.
BECKY BURCH/Bartlesville Area Sports
By Mike Tupa
Sept. 29, 2025
BARTLESVILLE AREA SPORTS REPORT
October can be heard in whispers on the breeze. Soon golden leaves will hitch a ride on gravity’s elevator and descend gently to the ground.
Among the signs of the season are the climatic wrap-up of the high school volleyball season.
Three area teams — Bartlesville, Dewey and Wesleyan Christian — are about to wrap up their regular season and surge with high hopes into the playoffs.
Following are updates.
BARTLESVILLE
Despite a rugged gauntlet through last weekend’s Yukon Tournament, the Lady Bruins are still well ahead of a .500 record (18-14) with three regular season matches left.
They will be home twice this week — Tuesday against Jenks and Thursday (Senior Night) against Cascia Hall. Their final scheduled match is October 7, at Muskogee, prior to the playoffs.
Second-year Lady Bruin head coach Andrew Blain purposely entered his team into the ultra-competitive Yukon tourney.
“It was a tough tournament,” he said. “We knew we wanted a big tune-up heading into the regional.”
The Lady Bruins finished 2-4 in Yukon.
They opened up by beating Yukon, 2-0, and then fell to Class 6A power Norman, 0-2. The Lady Bruins snapped back to outplay Mustang, 2-1, but lost in the last action on Friday to Tulsa Union, 0-2.
On Saturday morning, Bartlesville fell short against the defending Class 5A state champion Mt. Saint Mary powerhouse, 0-2. In bracket play, the Lady Bruins lost a dramatic four-set match to Tulsa Union, 25-27, 26-28, 25-20, 17-25.
Mia Johnson and Shalynn Conley both turned in big performances in that match, Blain said.
Riata Peck has stepped up in a major way as a blocker to help fill in for an injured player, Blain said.
Lady Bruin libero Sophie Frye earned a spot on the All-Tournament team.
“It was a tough tournament,” he summarized “Everyone was ranked.”
Bartlesville’s challenges continue this week — Jenks is ranked No. 7 in Class 6A and Cascia Hall is ranked No. 2 in Class 4A.
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DEWEY
Just two years ago, the Lady Doggers could barely win a match.
So far this season it’s been almost hard to lose one.
Heading into their final three regular season matches, the Lady Doggers own a 19-5 record
They are on the fringe of earning homecourt advantage in the upcoming Class 3A regional playoffs.
Despite a disappointing loss late last week against Claremore-Sequoyah — which could have a negative impact on whether they finish with a Top 10 ranking and a regional host honor — the Lady Doggers still eye four remaining competitive matches and a 20-plus win season.
On Monday Dewey travels to Caney, Kan., to take on the Lady Bullpups. Oklahoma Union visits Dewey on Tuesday. The Lady Doggers make the tiny trip Thursday to Wesleyan Christian School. Their Senior Night will be on October 6 at Dewey.
Head coach Hayley Harris is pleased with how the overall mindset of the Dewey players has matured since she took charge of the team. A couple of seasons ago, Dewey won only one or two matches.
Last year, they rose to double-digit victories. And this year they are on target to win more than 20.
“Our upperclassmen know what it is to lose and now we do know what it means to win,” Harris said. “This year we just have more consistency. We carry ourselves a little differently.”
Team captains C.J. Jones and Lacey Nichols lead the team “and keep the energy up,” Harris said.
Olivia Croucher “is the spirit and cheerleader of the team,” Harris continued. “She’s always the one that gets the girls motivated.”
Isabela Villanueva is the team libero “and one of those types of girls who is always going to play to the best of their ability,” said Harris. “She’s so consistent.”
Freshman Marcella Willard “just leads us in kills. She gets our energy up really fast,” Harris continued. “Kaylee Cole holds the girls to a higher standard.”
With a strong finish the Lady Doggers might be in friendly confines when the regional rolls around.
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Wesleyan Christian School’s Whitlie Tennison (8) passes the ball during an earlier season match. The Lady Mustangs are 14-12 on the season.
BECKY BURCH/Bartlesville Area Sports
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WESLEYAN CHRISTIAN SCHOOL
The Lady Mustangs own a winning record (14-12) despite a brutally competitive schedule.
They eye their Senior Night game this coming Thursday (October 2) against Dewey.
One of the Lady Mustangs’ key rotations is in the middle with Whitlie Tennison and Emily Christensen.
Tennison plays on the back row and also excels in serving and communication. But her full value exudes an impact far beyond the competitive fires.
“She’s our team chaplain,” said WCS head coach Mariah Cooks. “She leads our devotions. She has the freedom to choose what the team needs to hear.”
Christenson’s main role is up at the net.
“She’s doing a phenomenal job of blocking this year,” Cooks said. “We’ve got a really good, aggressive middle.
Ava Gatrell also has developed into a key asset.
“She’s learned how to play with a lot more confidence,” Cooks said. “She’s just done a great job helping the team stay consistent. I’m impressed with her confidence. … She plays pretty smart.”
Olivia Week is another senior that brings offensive firepower and “is very vocal,” Cooks said.
She also mentioned the powerful hitting duo of Kori White and Miranda Hadrava.
In assessing the year so far, Cooks said that: “I think it’s been a growing season for us. We have a lot of really good things going for us.”
There are more coaches, which helps in correcting the players more quickly, Cooks said.
“We got a lot of even talent,” she continued. “Every girl is pretty tall, every girl is pretty quick.”
The Lady Mustangs graduated some exceptional talent from the year before and one of the tasks this year with a new mix has been “kind of buffering personalities,” Cooks added.
Overall, the Lady Mustangs have pulled off some signature wins and if they keep rising to their potential could be a dangerous postseason opponent.