Bulldogs fall in straight sets to Bears
(Photo by ERIC PLUMMER) Marina Breuner had a team high 24 assists in the Bulldogs’ loss at Moscow on Tuesday night. They’ll play their third match in two days when they face host Post Falls and Mt. Spokane tonight in a Tri-match.
MOSCOW — The parity in 4A Inland Empire League volleyball is as good as it’s been in years, as shown in the Bulldogs’ five set loss to Lakeland and Tuesday night’s 25-22, 25-23, 25-23 loss at Moscow, another winnable match where Sandpoint led in every set but could not seal the deal.
Grace Hicks posted a triple double with 11 kills, 15 assists and 13 digs, Marina Breuner helped run the offense with a team-high 24 assists to go with eight digs, and Kaitlan Ward anchored the back row with 22 digs for the Bulldogs (7-7, 0-2 4A IEL) in defeat.
“It was a battle. We had a hard time putting balls away against Moscow’s back row,” said Bulldogs head coach Erin Roos. “Kaitlan had a great night defensively and serve-receiving. We had leads in every set, but relaxed too much and didn’t finish the job.”
Sophomore Jenny Slaveck continues to be a factor in both rows, finishing with seven kills and 13 digs, Grace Kirscher had six kills and a team-high three blocks in the middle, and Shelby Kluver eight kills, 20 digs and two aces among several long service runs.
If there is a silver lining in the two league losses, it’s that Sandpoint was in position to win both and has shown the ability to play tougher against the 5As than either Lakeland or Moscow. To turn the table the second time through, the Bulldogs will need to show the ability to finish sets when they have a lead.
The Bulldogs are at Post Falls today in a tri-match with Mt. Spokane, playing the third match in two days.