Defensive gems save Bulldogs in district opener
(Photo by ERIC PLUMMER) Jenny Slaveck, near, and Kaitlan Ward both try and retrieve the serve in the Bulldogs’ thrilling five set win over Lakeland in Tuesday night.
(Photo by ERIC PLUMMER) Grace Kirscher, right, and Keely DeVore meet at the top of the net in the loser-out game of the district volleyball tournament.
SANDPOINT — Grace Hicks hammered 14 kills, including two final rips to close the fifth set, and a pair of late defensive gems helped the No. 2 seed Bulldogs grind out a 25-22, 19-25, 25-20, 20-25, 15-10 win over the No. 3 Hawks in the loser-out game of the 4A Region 1 volleyball tournament on Tuesday night at Les Rogers Court.
The back-and-forth affair was tied at 8-8, when two of the biggest defensive plays of the season helped swing the match to the Bulldogs, as Helen Merwin and Marina Breuner each made difficult one-handed punch returns for points. The highlight-reel shots fired up the crowd, and the Bulldogs finished the final set to keep their season alive.
“We had some clutch defense by Helen and Marina,” said Bulldog head coach Erin Roos of the two huge plays. “Those crazy clutch defensive plays really fire up the team and shift momentum.”
The 6-foot-2 Hicks has been the go-to hitter for the Bulldogs (14-17) all season, and several of her kills Tuesday were college variety, with power and a steep angle. She also had 11 digs, four aces and three blocks, and was a big a factor on both the front and back rows.
Kaitlan Ward tallied 18 digs, Shelby Kluver six kills and 14 digs, Jenny Slaveck nine kills, Jazmin Stockton five blocks and Breuner two aces for the Bulldogs, who trek south the face No. 1 seed Moscow on Thursday in the district championship game.
The two teams split during the regular season, with Sandpoint winning last week in four sets to even the score. Roos said the key to getting the win and advancing to state will be not beating themselves under pressure.
“We’ve been our own worst enemy all season,” said Roos. “We need to go out confident. Not playing perfect, but playing smart.”
Led by some dominant net play by Mattisyn Cope, the Hawks (13-20) showed some grit and came back twice to tie the match at two sets apiece, and were right there to win it late in the fifth set.
Sophomore setter Keely DeVore, 6-foot-3 freshman Katy Ryan and freshman Leyah de Souza helped put their team in a position to win, and represent a bright future for the Hawks.
“They showed some desire to win. We missed a couple things here and there on defense, and we got killed on the pass,” said Hawks head coach Adriano de Souza, praising Sandpoint in defeat. “They’re tall, big blockers, with really good serving.”
Sandpoint is at Moscow on Thursday in the championship game at 6 p.m. in the Bear Den. The winner advances to state, and the loser is done for the season.