Hicks, Slaveck power Bulldogs past Trojans
(Photo by ERIC PLUMMER) Grace Hicks unloads on one of her team-high 12 kills in the Bulldogs’ win over the Trojans Tuesday night.
SANDPOINT — Senior Grace Hicks hammered 12 kills, including a few impressive blasts from the back row, and tallied a team-high 16 digs, leading the Bulldogs to an impressive 25-22, 25-18, 23-25, 25-13 win over the 5A Trojans in nonleague volleyball Tuesday night at Les Rogers Court.
The Bulldogs (9-5) came at the Trojans in waves, eventually wearing them down and closing the final set on a 15-3 run. Head coach Jeff Hurst attributed the win to rigorous early-season workouts on the sand courts at City Beach.
“That’s what the sand does for you. We were an oppressive force that continued to come at them,” claimed Hurst. “We continue to physically improve, the ball skills improve and it’s physical oppression.”
Shelby Kluver ripped nine kills, Jenny Slaveck added 14 digs and three aces, Gabby Hicks had five blocks and Marina Breuner set the attack with precision and variety for the Bulldogs, who put the game away after a 10 point service run by Slaveck in the fourth set, buoyed by a massive kill from Jazmin Stockton that got the crowd fired up after bouncing off a Trojan.
“Jazmin is the surprise player of the year. We know Grace is going to be there,” said Hurst, whose defense continues to improve. “Coming away with a W, singing the fight song, rocking and rolling. We’re playing to win.”
Tessa Sarf was a huge factor at the net for the Trojans (6-4), posting 14 kills and seven blocks, Ali Carpenter added 21 digs and three aces, Kayla Mayo 15 set assists and four aces, Courtney Finney 13 assists and three aces, and Megan Wood five blocks in defeat.
“Sandpoint is much improved, they played solid tonight,” said Trojans head coach Matt Barkley, whose team played evenly with the Bulldogs for the better part of two sets. “We were pretty scrappy tonight. Tessa and Ali played solid.”
Sandpoint hosts Moscow on Thursday.
n Stevens, Bristol lead Wampus Cats in sweep of Miners
CLARK FORK — Brooke Stevens finished with 19 assists, five aces and four blocks, and Hailey Bristol a team-high eight kills to go with a block as the Wampus Cats swept the Miners 25-12, 25-18, 25-18 on Tuesday in nonleague volleyball at Clark Fork High School.
The Wampus Cats (7-4) have won three straight since playing in the Lakeland Tournament, and head coach Cindy Derr liked what she saw from her squad.
“We came out ready to play. We have been working hard at practice to speed up the game and get all of the hitters involved,” she said. “Brooke did a nice job again tonight spreading out the sets so everyone came away with kills.”
Ellie Lambert anchored the back row with solid serve-receive and six digs, Ali Sutton added five kills and three aces, Ellie Kiebert five aces and three kills, and Tessa Sutton had three aces and big eight point service run to put things away.
The Wampus Cats finished with 18 aces as a team, and overcame a slight lull in the second set.
“We were a little off starting the second with Wallace serving up several points from the line that put us behind. I took a time out and told the girls to get the game back under control on our side and not let one slip away from us like they did with Lakeside on Saturday,” described Derr. “They went back out on the court and did their job. Our serving was good again tonight.”
The Cats, no strangers to playing up in class to prepare for a state run, travel to Post Falls today to face the Trojans JV team, before a match at Genesis Prep on Saturday.