It was a busy first week of the season for the Becker Bulldog volleyball team, as they played a total of seven matches and came away with a 2-5 record. Last Tuesday, they had a rough start to the season, dropping a 0-3 contest to Rush City before falling to Princeton last Thursday in straight sets. They then rebounded to go 2-2 at the annual Becker Tournament of Roses last Saturday before falling to M8 rival Big Lake in three games on Tuesday evening.

Against the Rush City Tigers, Becker kept the opening volley close, falling 25-21 before fading down the stretch in losing the next two sets 19-25 and 7-25. Last Thursday’s loss to Princeton was a similar story, as the Bulldogs couldn’t get over the hump and lost in straight sets.

In the opening round of their tournament, Becker fell to PACT Charter School, 2-1. Becker dropped a close first game 25-22 before coming back for a decisive 25-16 win in the second set. The tie-breaker set didn’t go in Becker’s favor, as they fell 4-15.

Becker rallied in their second contest of the day to down Minneapolis Washburn in straight sets, 25-18 and 25-17, for their fist win of the year.

The Bulldogs carried the momentum into the next contest, picking up a close, 2-1 win over the Benson Braves. Becker opened with a 25-23 win in the first set, but fell 20-25 to Benson in the second. Becker was a bit better in the tie-breaker, picking up a 15-11 win to secure the match.

In the final match of the tournament, Becker couldn’t keep pace with Eden-Valley Watkins and fell 2-1. Becker came out on top of an exciting first set with a 26-24 win, but then fell 25-22 in the second set. The Eagles were a bit better in the third set and took the match win by notching a 15-8 win.

In Tuesday’s match against the Hornets, Becker couldn’t find a consistent offense as they fell in straight sets, 25-18, 25-16, 25-18.

Becker was set to take on Cambridge-Isanti in a road game Thursday before having another busy week with games at St. Cloud Tech on Monday, at Hutchinson on Tuesday and then returning home for a matchup with Chisago Lakes on Thursday night.