Shepard leads Bulldogs past Lake City

SANDPOINT — Junior middle blocker Ashley Shepard hammered home a season-high 10 kills, including a couple big points in the fifth game, to lead Sandpoint to a hard fought 19-25, 25-14, 24-26, 25-23 and 15-13 win over Lake City in nonleague volleyball action Tuesday night at Les Rogers Court.

Mackenzie Jones added 26 assists, Blake Plaster 22 digs and Sam Buratto five aces for the Bulldogs (3-1). Sandpoint head coach Karen Alsager had high praise for the play of the 6-foot-2 Shepard, who continues to emerge as a hitting threat.

“That’s the best we’ve ever seen from her,” said Alsager, who added afterward she was sort of happy to see the match go to a fifth game. “We haven’t won a fifth game yet and needed to get over that barrier.”

Jennifer Schuman swatted a match-high 17 kills to lead Lake City (4-5), MacKenzie Brown added 12 digs and five aces, Camille Rounds 34 set assists and Carly Farrell three blocks in defeat.

“In the beginnings of games we’re making a few unforced errors,” said Lake City coach Bret Taylor of the difference in the game. “I’m proud of the team and the effort that they put forth. We’ll keep building; it’s not now, it’s the end.”

Sandpoint is at Lakeland on Thursday.