PREP VOLLEYBALL: Sandpoint returns after missing three matches due to COVID-19
SANDPOINT — Saturday was the first time Sandpoint's volleyball team was together in over a week.
A COVID-19 outbreak within the program forced the Bulldogs to miss three matches. For coach Karen Alsager and a handful of her players, Saturday was their first action on a volleyball court since Sept. 9.
"I'm glad to be out of bed," Alsager said. "This is the first time I've seen people since last Thursday."
The Bulldogs' last match was on Sept. 7 against Coeur d'Alene. Four players on varsity practiced with the JV squad this week, the rest of the team was stuck at home, Alsager said.
Sandpoint was still without two players against Moscow, and the Bears capitalized on the Bulldogs' rust, earning a three-set victory.
"I still have not had one match this year where I've had all the people playing in the right spots that they're being trained for — not one," Alsager said.
Moscow won the Inland Empire League match 25-16, 25-22, 25-22 at Les Rogers Court.
Alsager said repetitive errors killed the Bulldogs and her team needs to play with more passion and heart.
"We're trying to find what our court personality is and our court personality right now is meek," she said.
The Bears rolled in the opening set. In the second and third sets Sandpoint got off to strong starts, but was unable to keep the momentum.
In the second set, the Bulldogs had 12 kills and six service errors.
Audrey Sheffler tallied 27 assists, Vivian Platte had 10 kills, Emma Brown grabbed 15 digs and Lauren Breuner and Amaya Russell each served two aces for Sandpoint (1-6, 0-2 IEL). Tori Pelkey finished with five kills and two blocks.
"Our middles did really well tonight," Alsager said.
Sandpoint hosts Post Falls on Thursday.
Post Falls ties
for fifth at tourney
YAKIMA, Wash. — The Trojans went 4-1 on the day and finished tied for fifth at the 30-team SunDome Volleyball Festival at the SunDome.
In pool play, Post Falls beat Rogers (Puyallup) 25-10, 25-9, Burlington-Edison 25-15, 25-13 and Davis (Yakima) 25-6, 25-10 to earn the top seed in the Gold Bracket.
There, Post Falls lost to No. 8 seed Mt. Spokane 25-17, 25-17, then beat No. 2 seed Tahoma 25-22, 26-24.
Kylie Munday had 38 kills, 33 assists and 11 blocks on the day for Post Falls (13-4). Rylee Hartwig added 31 kills and five aces, Kassie Gardiner 66 assists and five aces, Hanna Christensen 12 blocks, Claire Holding 46 digs and six aces, Brooklyn Minden 24 digs.
Post Falls plays at Coeur d’Alene on Tuesday in the annual Volleyball 4 The Cure match for cancer awareness.