Sandpoint volleyball falls in straight sets to Coeur d'Alene
Senior Emma Brown gets down low for a dig during Tuesday's match against Coeur d'Alene at Les Rogers Court.
(Photo by DYLAN GREENE)
Junior Haley McAuliffe serves during Tuesday's match.
(Photo by DYLAN GREENE)
Audrey Sheffler serves during Tuesday's match.
(Photo by DYLAN GREENE)
Vivian Platte (left) and Tori Pelkey elevate for a block on Tuesday.
(Photo by DYLAN GREENE)
Hailey Roeder serves on Tuesday.
(Photo by DYLAN GREENE)
Haley McAuliffe gets a dig on Tuesday.
(Photo by DYLAN GREENE)
Emma Brown dives down for a dig on Tuesday.
(Photo by DYLAN GREENE)
Saylor Bond gets a dig on Tuesday.
(Photo by DYLAN GREENE)
SANDPOINT — Bulldog volleyball just couldn't muster enough momentum to mount a rally against Coeur d'Alene on Tuesday night at Les Rogers Court, falling in three sets, 25-20, 25-15, 25-23.
Head coach Karen Alsager said her team needed to play with more energy to contend with the Vikings.
"We can play better than that against Coeur d'Alene," she said. "We gotta be more disciplined. We're having a lot of talks with the girls about playing with passion."
Sandpoint was without one of its vocal leaders — senior Lauren Breuner.
Breuner brings a fire to the court that is tough to match and the Bulldogs missed her presence against Coeur d'Alene, Alsager said.
"She's probably our best defender and Lauren is our heartbeat," she said.
Sophomore setter Audrey Sheffler was able to take the court for Sandpoint after rolling her ankle at Lake City last Thursday. Heading into the match, Alsager wasn't expecting Sheffler to play, but she fought through the pain for her team.
"I'm thankful she played at all," Alsager said.
In the first set, CDA jumped out to a 10-2 advantage to force an early Sandpoint timeout. But the Bulldogs countered with an 8-0 run and the Vikings called a timeout to regroup.
With the score at 21-19, Coeur d'Alene won four of the next five points to finish out the first set.
Sandpoint hung around with the Vikings early in the second set, but CDA went on a 8-1 run to close out the set.
The Bulldogs fell behind 17-11 in the third, but clawed their way back thanks in part to back-to-back aces from junior Amaya Russell. SHS fought off one match point, but the Vikings completed the sweep.
Senior Saylor Bond led the team in kills with four.
"Saylor had some big moments tonight," Alsager said.
Senior libero Emma Brown tallied nine digs.
"Emma always plays hard," Alsager said. "She is diving everywhere out there."
Sheffler had 13 kill assists, senior Tori Pelkey finished with two blocks and Russell added her two aces.
Through six matches, Sandpoint still hasn't had a chance to roll out their full lineup. Alsager said it's been difficult to be without one key piece each match, and she hopes her team gets healthy soon.
"We've got young kids that have a lot to learn and we have the passion to teach them what they need to know," she said.
Sandpoint (1-5, 0-1 Inland Empire League) heads to Lewiston at 7 p.m. Thursday.
