Tall and talented Bulldogs primed for stellar season

Confidence could be key to break through at state

By ERIC PLUMMER

Sports editor

SANDPOINT — The Bulldog volleyball team checks a lot of the boxes it takes to win a state title, including height, experience, firepower, depth and grit, among many other winning traits.

But what they lack, what has kept them from contending for state titles in recent years, is good old-fashioned confidence, the kind that comes from winning at state.

One of the best seasons in recent memory ended last year with a 21-14 record and losses to Century and Burley at state. Head coach Erin Roos is hoping this is the year her team serves notice that the storied program is ready to contend for banners again.

“I want to see us go in there confident. That was our obstacle last year, acting like we belong there,” says Roos of making some noise at state. “We have the height, firepower and ball control to compete at state, it’s just believing that you can do it. You have to get the buy-in that it’s possible, an expectation. I think we can do it.”

One of the strengths of the team will be a pair of dangerous junior setters guiding the Bulldogs’ balanced 6-2 offense, led by 6-foot-2 Grace Hicks and 6-1 Marina Breuner. When they’re not busy setting, both will take swings in the attack, making the Bulldogs very tough to defend.

Hicks, who tallied 150 kills and 23 blocks last season during an all-league campaign, has already drawn recruiting interest from a handful of colleges, and for good reason.

“There’s nothing I don’t like. She’s like a tall Laney (Search),” describes Roos of the versatile Hicks. “She plays everywhere except libero. She’s so tall, smart, competitive, a really great leader.”

Also getting swings in the offense will be all-league returning senior middle blocker Grace Kirscher, an athletic 6-1 player who finished with 126 kills and a team-high 58 blocks, many of which pumped up the team. Fellow senior Alexis Davis adds another front row option with the ability to end points.

Sophomore Jenny Slaveck (5-11) and juniors Jazmin Stockton (5-9) and Shelby Kluver (5-8) add three more power arms to the attack, which figures to be more spread out and diverse this year. Kluver finished last year with 103 kills, 203 digs and 23 aces, numbers that could go up with another year of experience.

“Shelby is super consistent and doesn’t make a lot of errors. She’s taking some really hard swings and being aggressive,” claims Roos. “Jenny hits a high ball, which helps to hit over the block.”

Anchoring the back row will be three defensive specialists in senior Kaitlan Ward, and juniors Helen Merwin and Lilly Anderson. All three have good ball control on service receive, which leads to a more potent attack. Teams that make state runs often have superb back row defense.

Ward finished with 131 digs and 12 aces last season, and returns with two years of varsity and state experience. She says team unity is a big strength this season.

“We work well together, cohesiveness and friendships on and off the court,” says Ward, noting execution is the key to winning. “Executing and controlling what we can. That’s a big word for us.”

With four players at or above 6-foot, the Bulldogs could feature one of their strongest blocks in years. At state, every team has firepower, but the teams that can throw up consistently thick blocks can make life that much tougher.

“Most teams set to an outside hitter. We’ll be able to put up a block, make them use their weaker hitters,” explains Roos. “I’m expecting to be a good blocking team, that’s always been a struggle in the past.”

Offensively, Roos says the Bulldogs will be more evenly distributed than last year, with hitters coming at defenses from all over the court.

Roos was asked what the team’s biggest strength was, admitting it was size and a competitive spirit, traits that could have the Bulldogs vying for some state hardware this year.

“That’s just dumb luck, you can’t coach height,” says Roos. “They’re ultra-competitive with each other. They hate to lose, and that’s wonderful. They mesh well and step up when they need to.

As always, getting to state will mean getting past league rivals Lakeland and Moscow. With arguably the best team she’s had in her three year tenure as coach, Roos is hoping for a league title and plenty more, and for good reason.