Sandpoint’s Volleyball Effort State Of The Art At Invitational

The Sandpoint High School volleyball team tried on its state-tournament face Saturday and liked the fit.

Playing with a style that Sandpoint coach Jeff Hurst called “controlled and smooth,” the Bulldogs easily devoured St. Maries 15-2, 15-7 in the championship match of the Lake City/Coeur d’Alene Spike-n-Dig Invitational.

Defending State A-1 champion Sandpoint posted five wins in the one-day tourney, advancing to the final with an equally efficient 15-4, 15-8 win over Lake City.

The Bulldogs raised their overall record to 18-0 and pushed their winning streak to 23, dating back to last year’s state tournament.

St. Maries (18-4) fell for the third time to Sandpoint. The Lumberjacks downed East Valley 15-7, 15-8 to advance to the championship match.

In other championship round matches, Lake City (13-8) defeated Lakeland (7-11) 15-5, 15-11, East Valley edged Moscow (6-11) 15-6, 9-15, 15-12 and Sandpoint eliminated Coeur d’Alene (16-17) 15-3, 15-13.

Leading Sandpoint were the usual suspects, setter Stacey Moline and middle hitters Alli Nieman and Tiwi Bond. All three were named to the all-tournament team and Moline was named most valuable player.

In the championship match, Nieman had 12 kills and one stuff block and Bond added nine kills, three aces and one stuff.

The Bulldogs were machine-like against St. Maries - especially in the first game. Bond recorded a kill for a sideout with the Bulldogs ahead 6-2, then the 6-foot senior stepped behind the service line where she’s just as deadly.

Bond tallied her three aces as Sandpoint closed out the first game on an 9-0 run. Nieman had two kills and a stuff during that span.

“We knew we’d do the athletic things, we knew we’d pound the ball and have the spectacular plays but we wanted to fill in the gaps and do the control and smooth things today,” Hurst said. “It’s not that the teams we’re playing (St. Maries, Coeur d’Alene and Lake City) aren’t good. That’s not fair. It’s just our kids are raising their level and playing well.”

St. Maries, which is fielding its youngest team in the past decade, played much better in the second game. In fact, a pair of aces by Amy Reid tied the game at 5-all.

But the Lumberjacks couldn’t overcome the Bulldogs’ distinct advantage at the net.

“Sandpoint did a good job at the net and they received serve really well,” St. Maries coach Mitch Santos said.

Santos was particularly pleased that his team bounced back from an emotional loss at Bonners Ferry on Thursday. It was St. Maries’ first Intermountain League loss since 1983, breaking a 119-match winning streak against league foes.

“Overall, they really responded well today,” Santos said. “That was something I needed to see today.”

Joining the trio of Bulldogs on the all-tournament team were: Eanna Aaron of Bonners Ferry, Amanda Tams of St. Maries, Angie Shirley of CdA and Jenny Owen of Lake City.

Clark Fork (14-6) split four matches at the Prairie Tournament in Cottonwood. The Wampus Cats beat Nezperce and Culdesac, but lost to Pomeroy and the host Pirates.

Cross country

The seventh-ranked Shadle Park girls defended their title and the Class A sixth-ranked Chewelah boys surprised the bigger schools at the Bullpup Invitational at Finch Arboretum.

Shadle bunched up in positions 3-5, with Tiffany Steele (20 minutes, 35 seconds for the 3.1 miles), defending champ Sara Hall (20:36) and Amy Sawatzky (20:37). The Highlanders scored 55 points, with Sandpoint (107) next.

Seventh-place Saskia Neher (21:05), with teammate Sam Inman (21:07) right behind, led Sandpoint. Kari Newby (21:27), in 14th, led Coeur d’Alene to fifth place. Bonners Ferry was sixth, topped by 10th-place Lany Dowell (21:14).

Lake City (205) was sixth, Sandpoint (219) seventh and Bonners Ferry (231) eighth among boys. Brad Harmon (17:00) of Post Falls, in ninth, was the top Idaho finisher, three spots and 7 seconds ahead of Jeremy Badgett of St. Maries.

Girls soccer

Sisters Erin Murphy and Mollie Murphy scored two goals apiece as visiting Coeur d’Alene (7-1-2, 9-4-3) beat Lewiston 4-2 and clinched the Idaho Independent League title.

The district tournament begins Tuesday, but the Vikings have a bye until Thursday. Allison Roberts and Debbie Cain scored for the Bengals (3-6-1, 5-6-1).

At Moscow, Jessica Robinson ended a scoreless match at 44 minutes with an unassisted goal and the host Bears (3-4-3, 6-4-3) went on to beat Bonners Ferry 2-0.

Desi Eggers had seven saves for the Badgers (0-9-0).

, DataTimes