Sandpoint cruises to IEL volleyball wiin

SANDPOINT — A wealth of big hitters along the front row enabled Sandpoint to cruise to a 25-19, 29-27 and 25-15 win in Inland Empire League volleyball action Thursday at Les Rogers Court.

Lydia Tollbom, Katie Watson, Jacqueline Palaniuk, Kaitlyn Lunde and Brooke DeMers each had four kills to lead a balanced, potent group providing firepower on the front line.

"I enjoyed seeing all my hitters in the front row swing with power," said Bulldogs' coach Karen Alsager, who praised her team's loose and fun attitude. "That's what you want as a coach; because how are you going to defend that?"

Abby Helander had four aces and Savanna Lester 15 digs to lead the Bulldogs (4-3, 4-2), who won their third straight IEL game.

Marissa Duncan had a huge game for the young Hawks (1-8, 0-5), smashing 15 bombs to go with 10 digs and two aces. Chelsey Curran had 27 digs as Lakeland continues to work for more consistency.

"We play in spurts," said Hawks' coach Claudia Ebel. "We're working on confidence and getting better each game."

? Vikings 4, Bulldogs 2

COEUR d'ALENE — The Vikings scored in the first 10 minutes for the fourth time this season and Robby Astin finished with two first-half goals to lead unbeaten Coeur d'Alene past Sandpoint 4-2 in Inland Empire League play Thursday.

Astin took a Carlos Lima assist and beat Sandpoint goalkeeper Ryan Williams 6:30 into the match. Derek Davidson gave the Vikings (8-0-3, 6-0-1 IEL) a two-goal lead when he scored 10 minutes later.

"Derek's goal was a thing of beauty," Coeur d'Alene coach Eric Louis said. "The ball came off Jordan Correia 's legs and went back toward the Sandpoint keeper, who tried to pass it off to a defender.

"Davidson beat him to the ball 25 yards out and slotted it in for the goal to give us a 2-0 lead."

The Bulldogs (2-7-2, 1-4-1 IEL) answered with back-to-back scores. Kyle Meaux scored off a Spencer Swerin assist in the 26th minute and Daniel Anderson cut the Coeur d'Alene lead to 3-2 when he scored on a penalty kick at 52:00. But that's as close as the defending IEL champions would get.

Sandpoint travels to Lewiston on Saturday.

First half — 1, Cd'A, Robby Astin (Carlos Lima), 6:30. 2, Cd'A, Derek Davidson (unassisted), 16:30. 3, Cd'A, Robby Astin (Derek Davidson), 24:00. 4, Spt, Kyle Meaux (Spencer Swerine), 26:00. Second half — 5, Spt, Daniel Anderson (penalty kick) 52:00. 6, Cd'A, Jordan Correia (Derek Davidson), 78:00.

Shots on goal — Cd'A 8. Sandpoint 8.

Saves — Cd'A, Marc Hilbert, 6. Sandpoint, Ryan Williams, 8; Shaunn Carlson, 2.