Sandpoint Tops Again Bulldogs Win Volleyball Title Second Year In A Row

The Sandpoint volleyball team didn’t follow the original script. More importantly, though, the Bulldogs completed their mission.

After losing in the afternoon semifinal Saturday, Sandpoint fought back to knock off Hillcrest of Idaho Falls twice - just as it did last year - as the Bulldogs defended their State A-1 championship.

Buoyed by a spirited crowd, Sandpoint downed Hillcrest 17-15, 15-10 to force the “if necessary” match at Lake City High School.

And the extra match was everything a state final should be. Sandpoint had to go three games but ultimately knocked off upset-minded Hillcrest 15-9, 7-15, 15-8.

“These kids earned it, they deserved it,” said Sandpoint coach Jeff Hurst, whose team finished 27-1. “It is their prize. I’m happy with what I did with them in terms of my coaching skills. The kids just gutted it out and have heart. They are fantastic.”

Hillcrest (37-7) advanced to the title match undefeated in the tournament by handing the Bulldogs’ their first loss of the season 12-15, 15-10, 15-11 in the semifinal.

“They are indeed the champions,” Hillcrest coach Jeff Craven said. “I think they sandbagged us in the first match. We’ll be back.”

Capital of Boise (13-7) finished third, while Bonneville of Idaho Falls (37-10) took fourth.

Championship matches

The two players that carried much of the offensive load for the Bulldogs all season came through with clutch efforts in the waning moments of the final match.

Sandpoint’s 6-foot-1 middle hitter Alli Nieman was poetry in motion around the net, putting down a team-high 15 kills. She had three in the late stages, and a diving one-handed dig set up the final blow executed by her teammate in the middle, 6-0 senior Tiwi Bond.

Bond hit a soft but effective kill that a diving Hillcrest’s Brooke Fuller couldn’t dig on match point.

Nieman, a four-year starter, collected her second gold medal and fourth overall. She was on back-to-back state runner-up teams as a sophomore and freshman.

“I couldn’t ask for anything more,” Nieman said. “Right now I’m kind of sad because I’ll never play again with my players on my team. But it ended perfect. All along we knew we could do it. I think the loss to Hillcrest took some of the pressure off of us with the undefeated thing. We just went out and had a good time (after that).”

In the first championship match, Sandpoint fell behind in the opening game 8-4, but rallied to tie the game at 10-all. A kill off a quick set by Nieman tied it at 12. Two unforced errors by Hillcrest allowed Sandpoint a 14-12 lead.

A tip by Rachelle Ellis gave the Knights the lead at 15-14. But a poor set by usually steady Krista Charles allowed the Bulldogs to pull even at 15.

Sandpoint triumphed moments later on two more errors by Hillcrest.

The Bulldogs jumped out to a 6-0 lead in the second game, then watched the Knights fight back to tie it at 7-all. Then Nieman, who had 11 kills and three stuff blocks, took over.

A Nieman kill and a tip coupled with an ace by Stacey Moline and a kill by Jenna Verby pushed Sandpoint’s lead to 14-7.

Following a brief spurt by Hillcrest, Bond extended Sandpoint’s season to one more match when she collected a block stuff on match point.

Semifinal

It’s a tired perspective, but Sandpoint played not to lose in the semifinal.

The Bulldogs never seemed to find a flow despite winning the first game. Still, Nieman had 11 kills in the opening game and Bond added nine.

But Hillcrest took control the final two games. Especially during the early moments of the second game.

Hillcrest opened a 9-1 lead, then held off two attempted Bulldog rallies. Krista Bowers blocked a kill by Nieman on game point.

The Knights never trailed in the third game either. An ace by Verby got Sandpoint within one at 8-7, but that’s as close as the Bulldogs would get.

Nieman and Bond each finished with 16 kills.

Hurst took a calm approach in dissecting the loss with his team. He explained the loss meant just one thing - the Bulldogs would play an extra match in their quest to defend their state title. He said there was no reason for his team to panic, and he challenged his players to quit being reactive and anticipate.

They took Hurst’s counsel to heart, especially in the loser-out match with Capital.

Hillcrest setter Krista Charles - the top setter in the state - led the Knights’ win over Sandpoint with intelligent ballhandling.

It didn’t take Sandpoint long to flush the memory of its first loss of the season out of its mind.

The Bulldogs eliminated Capital in commanding fashion in a 15-1, 15-4 decision.

Sandpoint put on a clinic, especially in the first game. The Eagles scored their lone point in the opening game on a tip, then it was all Sandpoint the final 12 points.

Interestingly, the usual power brokers - Nieman and Bond - were relatively quiet. Leading the hitting parade was outside hitter Tanya Allmaras.

Allmaras collected a team-high six kills.

Sandpoint closed out the first game behind a stuff block and kill by Many Ringhand and an ace and another tough serve by Nieman.

A kill for a sideout late in the second game by Verby and a followup kill by Verby secured the match for the Bulldogs.

In earlier loser-out matches, Capital defeated Nampa 15-9, 15-9 and Bonneville rolled past Boise 15-8, 15-6.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Photo

MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: A-1 championships Results for State A-1 Volleyball Tournament at Lake City High School: Saturday’s results Consolation matches Capital d. Nampa 15-9, 15-9 Bonneville d. Boise 15-8, 15-6 Championship semifinal Hillcrest d. Sandpoint 12-15, 15-10, 15-11 Third-pace match Sandpoint d. Capital 15-1, 15-4 Championship match Sandpoint d. Hillcrest 17-15, 15-10 If necessary Sandpoint d. Hillcrest 15-9, 7-15, 15-8