Sandpoint drops eighth straight match
(Photo courtesy of JASON DUCHOW PHOTOGRAPHY) Junior Bella Phillips goes up to block a shot against Lakeland on Thursday night.
(Photo courtesy of JASON DUCHOW PHOTOGRAPHY) Senior outside hitter Jenny Slaveck blasts a shot over the net during the match against Lakeland on Thursday.
(Photo courtesy of JASON DUCHOW PHOTOGRAPHY) Junior middle blocker Gabby Hicks attempts to hit a kill during the match Thursday.
RATHDRUM — Eight. That’s how many regular season matches Sandpoint volleyball has lost in a row after falling in three sets to Lakeland on Thursday night.
They lost 22-25, 22-25, 13-25.
The victory gave the Hawks a perfect 4-0 season in the 4A Inland Empire League and dropped the Bulldogs to 0-3 in league play.
Despite the loss, Sandpoint volleyball head coach Karen Alsager was encouraged by her team’s performance.
“We played good volleyball tonight,” she said. “To go 22-25 in the first two games on Lakeland’s home court, we played well. We had too many unforced errors per game that cost us points that we basically just handed to the other team ... so that’s frustrating. I feel like toward this point in the season, we shouldn’t be having those errors. So I’m not discouraged by the way we played, its hard because its Lakeland.”
Junior setter Kaylee Banks led the team with nine set assists in the match while Cece Deprez tallied seven.
Senior outside hitter Jenny Slaveck had eight kills and 13 digs and junior middle blocker Gabby Hicks added 15 digs.
Senior outside hitter Katie Korn served two aces and junior middle blocker Bella Phillips grabbed two blocks.
It can be hard to break a losing streak and Alsager said if she had the answer for her team to overcome it they wouldn’t be losing.
“I think all you can do is keep encouraging them, try to fix little problems and believe in them that they can go out and play hard to win every time they step out on the court,” she said.
Sandpoint will host Moscow at 1:30 p.m. Saturday.
“Moscow’s a really tough team,” Alsager said. “They run a good offense, they pass well, they dig well. I think if we can play like we did tonight for the first two games, I think that we can take Moscow.”