Unified Bulldogs triumph
<p>Sandpoint sophomore middle blocker Halley Olin rises up during the Bulldogs' four-set win over Moscow in the 4A Region 1 championship game.</p>
SANDPOINT - Sandpoint coach Karen Alsager and senior captain Mackenzie Jones echoed similar sentiments after the Bulldogs downed Moscow 16-25, 25-14, 25-13, 25-19 in the championship of the 4A Region 1 volleyball tournament Saturday at Les Rogers Court.
The pair's wavelength could well determine how far the cohesive squad goes in next week's 4A state tournament, as the Bulldogs (15-11) go in search of their 16th championship banner.
If Saturday's crisp play was any indication, they'll be a tough out starting next Friday in Post Falls.
"This is the first team I've ever been on that plays for each other," described Jones, who led the attack with 64 assists in two matches. "I feel like we really came together today and picked each other up."
Not minutes before, Alsager described the team's identity nearly the same way.
"This team plays for one another, no individuals," said Alsager. "I couldn't be prouder. Everyone did their jobs today."
Senior outside hitter Alex Bucholtz tallied 22 kills and 33 digs, and came up with some clutch points whenever her team lost momentum. Hannah Neumann added 20 kills and 26 digs, Kelli Plaster five aces and Beth Lewis four blocks on the day for the No. 1 seed Bulldogs, who dispatched Lakeland 25-15, 25-17 and 25-16 in the semifinal match.
Alsager admitted her team said it was nervous enough to vomit earlier in the week, knowing the previous two meetings with the No. 2 seed Bears (11-13) had been five set nail biters and a berth at state was far from a given. The nerves seemed to have worked their way out by Saturday, as the Bulldogs were clicking on all cylinders and finished each set decisively with some strong service runs.
"It's nice to see they're not that cocky. They know they have to work hard and they do," said Alsager, adding that any state trophy is going to take some yeoman work. "We'll have to play really well to place. We're not going to be able to have any lapses."
No. 3 seed Lakeland (6-25) started the one-day, double-elimination tournament by surprising Moscow with a 12-25, 25-23, 25-23, 8-25, 15-8 upset win, earning the right to face the seed Bulldogs in the second match.
After the Hawks were swept by Sandpoint, they ran out of gas in the following loser-out match, falling 25-11, 25-4 and 25-11 to the Bears.
Sandpoint opens state vs. Bonneville (27-9) on Friday at 1 p.m. at Post Falls High.