Clark Fork wins volleyball match

KOOTENAI — Clark Fork played their best game of the season Tuesday night, dropping Kootenai 25-18, 25-20 and 25-9 in North Star League action.

The Cats (4-3) got huge games from their big three of Rayna Allen, Megan Hess and Bailey Hewitt. Allen had five kills, 16 digs and five aces, Hess added 19 digs to go with her team-high seven aces, and Hewitt tallied five kills, 15 digs and four aces. Shaina Gustafson led the Cats with 12 assists, spearheading a potent passing game.

"That was one of the best games they've ever played; passing was top-notch," said Cats' coach Lisa Allen. "The whole team played well. The passing was excellent, communication was good and we had good hitting."

The Cats are still gelling after missing much of the early part of their season, and knocking off Kootenai — who went to state last year — at their house was proof the Cats are becoming a dangerous team.

Clark Fork hosts NSL power Wallace Thursday at 6 p.m.

? Sandopint 5, Post Falls 1

SANDPOINT — Senior Sadie Vogel had a goal and an assist in the first 12 minutes of Sandpoint's 5-1 victory over Post Falls Tuesday night at War Memorial Field.

Sandpoint (4-3-1, 2-2-1) coach Adam Tajan was pleased with his team's defense and how they got scoring contributions from all over the field.

"I thought we played well in the back; didn't let them create much," he said. "It was nice to get a lot of variety in the scoring."

Vogel, Brittany Clawson, Becca Stone, Brittany Oakley and Stephanie Bell accounted for the balanced Bulldog scoring attack. Each goal was assisted by a different player as they built a 4-0 lead in the first half, and out shot the Trojans 15-2. The Bulldogs play at Lewis and Clark on Thursday.

First half — 1, Spt, Brittany Clawson (Sadie Vogel) 3:00. 2, Spt, Vogel (Stephanie Bell) 12:00. 3. Spt, Becca Stone (Justine Clawson) 23:00. 4, Spt, Brittany Oakley (unassisted) 35:00. Second half — 5, PF, Charlie Evans (penalty kick). 6, Spt, Bell (Katie Adams).

Shots on goal — PF 2, Spt 15.

Saves — PF, Karen Lohman 12; Spt, Michelle Brothers 3.

? Vikings edge Bulldogs

COEUR d'ALENE — You wouldn't expect many teams to bounce back from the blistering Lake City took in the third game of Tuesday night's Inland Empire League volleyball match vs. visiting Sandpoint.

But in a match where momentum changed uniforms in each game, Lake City had it in the last two and won 16-25, 25-17, 9-25, 25-21, 15-9.

"Volleyball's all about emotion," Lake City coach Jenny Owen said. "It seemed like whoever came out with the harder serve came out on top."

Sandpoint had the emotion in the third game, when 5-foot sophomore Abby Helander served three aces in the first seven points. That seemed to inspire the Bulldogs hitters, particularly freshman Piper Wahlen and senior Katie Watson, and soon Sandpoint had built a 22-3 lead.

But Riki Moreland came up big in the fourth game for Lake City (4-3, 3-1 IEL), and teammate Kaylen Meredith did likewise in the fifth, and Sandpoint (4-3, 1-2) spent a good half-hour in the locker room after the match.

"I don't think my team realizes how good they really are," second-year Sandpoint coach Karen Alsager said. "We can just hammer teams, and they let up. Our consistency is very poor."

Katie Watson and Lydia Tollbom had eight kills each for Sandpoint. Savanna Lester had 28 digs, Helander five aces.

Sandpoint hosts Central Valley on Friday.