Bulldogs second at Crossover

SPOKANE — Playing arguably its best volleyball of the year, Sandpoint finished second out of 64 teams at the prestigious Crossover Classic volleyball tournament in Spokane last weekend.

The Bulldogs (19-4) were two points away from winning it all, leading eventual champion Mead 13-10 in the tie-breaker of the championship, before falling 25-19, 21-25 and 15-13 after Mead closed things out with five consecutive points.

“I’m so excited. I feel like we got our rhythm and flow going and I’m pumped up that we had a shot at the championship,” said Bulldogs coach Karen Alsager, who thinks the tournament is a nice springboard into districts and state. “We think it was our boost for the end of the season.”

Kaiti Lunde had a team-high 10 blocks and eight aces, along with 21 kills, to lead the Bulldogs, who beat Riverside, Richland, Southridge, Shadle Park, Davis and Cheney to advance to the championship.

Christina Johnson added 36 kills and 42 digs, Piper Wahlin 55 kills and 34 digs, Alissa Millard 50 digs, Koko James 18 kills and 70 assists, and Ariel Moe a team-high 71 set assists for the tournament.

Sandpoint is at Lakeland on Thursday for the final regular season match.