Cain leads Bulldogs to five set win over Trojans
—Photo by ERIC PLUMMER Alexis Davis, pictured earlier in the season, and the Bulldogs hit the road to face Post Falls on Tuesday night, winning in five sets.
POST FALLS — Junior setter McCalee Cain had a great night running the offense, tallying a team-high 27 set assists and four aces to lead the Bulldogs to a come-from-behind 12-25, 25-21, 20-25, 26-24, 15-10 five set win over 5A Post Falls on Tuesday in nonleague volleyball at The Arena.
Laney Search had a big night hitting, posting a triple-double with 13 kills, 22 assists and 19 digs, and Kayla Neumann added 13 kills and 18 digs as the Bulldogs (15-6) earned the season sweep of the Trojans.
“Not the prettiest win, but a win still feels good,” said Bulldogs head coach Erin Roos. “McCalee did a nice job setting and playing front row tonight.”
Sandpoint trailed 1-0 and 2-1 in sets, but held strong and found a way to grind out a tough road win with a strong finish. Roos loved the grit her team showed in a pivotal fourth set, which ended after a huge service run from Shelby Kluver.
“We were down 1-2, and the score was 18-22 and we be never gave up. They threw their bodies at balls to keep the play alive, (Grace) Kirscher had a key block, and they made smart attacking decisions,” praised Roos. “Shelby calmly served tough for seven points to earn us a 25-22 win, and kept us in the match.”
Kirscher had a team-high five blocks to go with six kills, Alexis Davis added five kills and two blocks and Kluver eight kills and eight digs, as the Bulldogs once again found a way to win and now boast their best record in years.
When starting outside hitter Grace Hicks returns, the Bulldogs could be primed for a post-season run.
Sandpoint hosts Lake City on Thursday, looking to avenge a straight set loss earlier in the season.
n Wampus Cats sweep Tigers
MULLAN — The Wampus Cats took care of business on the road, sweeping the Tigers 25-17, 25-16, 25-18 in North Star League volleyball action on Tuesday night at the Mullan Pavilion.
Brooke Stevens ran the offense with 25 set assists and three kills, Allison Warner and Ali Sutton each added four kills, Emily Garman five digs and Torri Foltz three digs off the bench for the Wampus Cats (6-4, 5-1 NSL), who played all 11 varsity girls in the win.
“It was great to see all the girls on the court,” said Cats head coach Cindy Derr, who was without middle blocker Sarah Holderman and juggled the lineup. “I moved Tessa (Sutton) from right side to the middle tonight and she did a good job. Grace (Shelton) also came off the bench and had some nice passes.”
Clark Fork hosts Genesis Prep on Thursday, before heading south for the Genessee Tournament on Saturday, a tourney that has traditionally prepared the Cats for a post-season run.