Bulldog volleyball unable to tame Timberwolves

COEUR d'ALENE — The first week of the season has been filled with adversity for Sandpoint volleyball, and that trend continued on Thursday at Lake City.

On the first serve of the match, starting sophomore setter Audrey Sheffler rolled her ankle and did not return.

"We're hoping that it's not going to be critical," head coach Karen Alsager said after that match.

With their setter out, the Bulldogs struggled to find a rhythm as they moved players around to positions they weren't expecting to be in entering the match against the Timberwolves.

Losing a setter that all the hitters have built a great relationship with isn't easy, Alsager said.

"When you switch your setter out that's a really big adjustment," she said.

The Bulldogs fell 25-8, 25-14, 25-13. It was their second loss to the Timberwolves, who beat SHS in straight sets to open the Judy Fong Memorial Tournament in Lewiston on Saturday.

Sandpoint was without starting middle blocker Livia Owens for that tourney and Tuesday's home match against Timberlake, but the sophomore returned on Thursday and saw her first varsity action.

With her team at full strength for the first time this season, Alsager was excited to see what they could do against the Timberwolves. But all that optimism changed when Sheffler went down.

"I really wanted to give Lake City a good battle tonight," Alsager said, "and after the first serve our balloon just deflated completely out of air. It was just rough."

Lauren Breuner had 11 set assists, Emma Brown notched 13 digs and Hailey Roeder added six digs.

"The highlight of the night was seeing [Roeder] get back to her normal self," Alsager said.

Alsager wanted to point out that the Bulldogs' junior varsity team was able to take a set off the talented Timberwolves.

"They played really well," she said.

The Bulldogs (1-4) return home to face Coeur d'Alene at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Les Rogers Court.