Bulldogs sweep Bears, punch ticket to state
SANDPOINT - Featuring a six-pack of hitters teeing off from everywhere on the court, a solid block and some crisp passing, Sandpoint swept Moscow 25-15, 25-12, 26-16 in the championship match of the 4A Region 1 volleyball tournament Saturday at Les Rogers Court.
Hannah Neumann posted 11 kills and nine digs in the final, Taylor Martin added nine kills and three aces, Hailey Dunn 20 set assists, Mariah Kluver nine digs and three aces, Kennedy Search 12 assists and five aces and Anna Alsager three blocks, as the No. 1 seed Bulldogs (23-11) showed why they'll be a team to be reckoned with at state next weekend.
Featuring a "zero tempo" offense that attacked quickly from the middle at times and methodically from the edges at others, the Bulldogs never let the Bears (15-14) set up any kind of defense.
Anna Alsager had several quick hitting kills from the middle, which opened up lanes for Martin and Neumann on the outside. Emma Liband, Dunn and Lexi Riley also had plenty of swings in the attack.
"In order for us to to well at state, every hitter in the six-hitter offense has got to be able to score. We also have to pass well enough to run a six-hitter offense," said Bulldogs coach Karen Alsager of the team's new system. "We ran all of our offense today, all of our hitters, that's a lot. The setter has options. We can't be one-dimensional."
Sandpoint will open the 4A state tournament against Bishop Kelly on Friday, at 8 a.m. at Lake City High School.
The Bulldogs also won in straight sets earlier in the day against Moscow, 25-18, 25-19, 25-9, as Martin finished 10 kills, Dunn 20 assists, Search 15 assists, Kluver nine digs and Alsager three blocks.
Kluver, a senior libero with a strong jump serve, feels the Bulldogs have a shot to do some damage when the 4A state tournament tips off on Friday at Lake City High School.
"I think if we play up to our potential, winning state is a possibility," said Kluver, expanding on the team's strengths. "We're really close, acting like a family. It's also the first year we've had really strong blocks."
The Bulldogs will have their work cut out for them, as the 4A is every bit as tough as the 5A bracket, featuring Skyview, which beat handed Lewiston its only loss in a tournament, with perennial state powers Bonneville and Century also in the mix.
"We can't just show up," said Alsager, whose teams haven't been able to put a run together at state in the past few years. "We've got to be playing our very best to have a chance."
No. 3 seed Lakeland (6-17) came out firing in the tournament opener, ultimately falling to Moscow 28-26, 25-23, 23-25, 25-23 in a tightly-contested match.
Kelly Ramus hammered 12 kills to go with three blocks and two aces, Haley Rotchford added 12 kills and Jennifer Thomas 29 set assists to lead the Hawks. The Hawks then fell to Moscow 25-9, 25-19, 25-19 in the loser-out match, as Emily Knight had a strong showing in defeat.
Lakeland coach Kylee Garitone was pleased with the energy her team brought to start the tournament.
"The first match was great, it could have gone either way. We just lacked the energy coming back in (to the second match)," said Garitone, praising front row play of Ramus in the opener. "She was on fire. She should have bought a lottery ticket."