Sandpoint defeats Lakeland

RATHDRUM — Tuesday's Inland Empire League slugfest in Rathdrum went to the 11th hour.

Lakeland took the first two games, but couldn't knock out the reigning seven-time IEL champion Sandpoint Bulldogs.

"They realized they needed to win," said Sandpoint coach Tiwi Nicks. "This was it, this was the last shot and they realized they needed to do it."

The Bulldogs (5-5 IEL, 15-9) staved off defeat, winning 24-26, 23-25, 25-18, 25-18, 15-12.

Key to the win was the last two points in the fifth game, Nicks said.

"We had two stuffed blocks that were key," she added. "It set thetone for finishing that match."

Caitlyn Free had 26 kills and Kelsey James added 29 assists for the Bulldogs. Free added eight blocks, Savanna Lester had 19 digs and Traci Kutzleb contributed three aces.

Ashley Beck finished with 19 kills and Cassie Duncan added 13 kills and three service aces for the Hawks (4-7, IEL, 14-11), who won a close first game, then the second.

Mindy Meyer had 30 assists, Scarlet Pruitt had 22 digs and Brigitte Boucher came away with five blocks.

The Bulldog host Post Falls on Thursday and Lakeland finishes up the regular season at home against Moscow on Saturda. The District 1 tournament starts Tuesday.