Saxons Thump Mead, Extend Streak To 38

The 38 consecutive wins in Greater Spokane League matches is one thing.

But the Ferris volleyball team got its biggest kick from extending its dominance at home.

Senior outside hitter Shayla Bush led Ferris in four offensive categories Thursday night to guide a 15-4, 3-15, 15-7, 15-10 victory over visiting Mead in the Greater Spokane League.

Ferris (8-0) tied idle Shadle Park for first place, setting up Tuesday’s big match at Shadle. Mead (6-2) lost hope for its first GSL title since 1989.

Ferris has won 66 of its last 67 GSL matches, the exception a 1997 loss at Mead. But the Saxons have a longer streak at home, where they haven’t lost since ‘95, when Gonzaga Prep went unbeaten in league play.

Ferris also paid back Mead for last Saturday’s loss in the title match of the 40-team Crossover Classic.

“We knew what this match meant to everybody,” Bush said. “They may have won Saturday, but we just went out and said, `This is our house.”’

Ferris gives up 2 to 3 inches to Mead at most positions, but the Saxons relied on quickness, precise serving and passing, and tipping to open spots.

“We blocked well Saturday and we just didn’t block them tonight,” said Panthers coach Judy Kight.

“As soon as we split up their blockers, we could start swinging away,” said Saxons sophomore middle blocker Nicole Brouillard.

Ferris scored the final 10 points of the first game. Bush had three kills and a block for a 10-4 lead, then served the final five points.

Mead used its power attack to jump ahead 7-0 and 12-2 in the second game. Tips, blocks and an ace by 6-foot middle blocker Andrea Rose kept Ferris off-stride.

But the momentum shifted rapidly. Denise Kirstein came off the bench for key points in the third game, when Ferris stormed to an 8-1 lead.

“The girls didn’t let it get to them after that big `biff’ in the second game,” said Ferris coach Stacey Ward.

Ferris sophomore Kristen Urdahl served four consecutive points, including two aces, to erase a 7-5 deficit in the fourth game. Ferris added four more points, starting with a Bush kill, for a 13-7 edge.

“Our serving in the last two games, even though we had a bad streak in there, really drew their hitters off the net,” Ward said.

“These kids have never lost at home. They don’t know what it’s like.”

Also in the league, the three teams tied for fifth place all won to improve to 4-4 and close the gap on fourth-place Lewis and Clark (5-3)… . Sarah Everstine and Lisa Van Gemert both had five consecutive kills in the fifth game of Gonzaga Prep’s 15-6, 3-15, 13-15, 15-7, 15-7 win over visiting LC. Prep’s Keva Sonderen had 16 kills, eight blocks and five digs… . East Valley defeated visiting Mt. Spokane 3-0, rallying for a 15-8 first-game win after trailing 8-5… . Angie Domrese had nine of her team’s 19 blocks during North Central’s 3-0 win over visiting Central Valley. NC’s Nicole Bostic hit .350.

Debbie Curry had 15 kills and visiting Pullman (7-1) defeated Medical Lake 15-11, 15-8, 11-15, 15-10. The Cardinals (5-4) led the first game 11-5… . Also in the GNL, Erika Martin’s 10 aces allowed visiting Chewelah (4-4) to edge Deer Park 15-9, 15-10, 5-15, 13-15, 15-13… . Dess Wendle had 13 kills in Newport’s 3-0 win at Riverside. Riverside defeated Newport 3-2 three weeks ago… . League-leading Lakeside (8-0) took to the road to defeat former league member Colville 3-0.

Megan Lippy finished with six aces and eight digs in Sandpoint’s 3-0 win at Cheney. Sandpoint finished its Border League schedule with a 9-0 record… . Also in the league, Courtney Goetz had 12 kills and Laurie Gregg added 12 digs as Moscow wrapped up its 8-1 Border season with a 3-0 win over visiting Clarkston.

Cross country

The Colville and Cheney boys improved to 2-0 in the Frontier League with wins on the road… . Cheney placed three runners in the top four to defeat West Valley at Plantes Ferry Park. WV’s John Frostad ran 16 minutes, 41 seconds for 3.1 miles in winning… . Cory Rebmann ran 16:06 for 2.96 miles at Clarkston to guide a 1-4 Colville finish… . Colville (2-0) is the last unbeaten girls team, after its win at Clarkston (1-1). Colville finished 1-5, led by Crystal Evans (21:10)… . WV’s girls also finished 1-5, topped by Jaimie Peterson (21:27) for a win on its Plantes Ferry home course.

This sidebar appeared with the story: GIRLS SOCCER Foland lifts Cheney

Megan Foland assisted the first goal and scored the second in Cheney’s 2-0 win at West Valley in the Border League. Cheney finished league play 6-4, tops among Washington schools, and will host the district championship… . Also in the league, Emily Benson had one goal and one assist as Lewiston (4-6) defeated visiting Moscow 2-1 to knock the Bears to 6-3.

Jamie Rizzuto scored three goals for the third consecutive match, guiding Riverside (8-0) to a 6-1 win at Deer Park in the Great Northern League. Larissa Mueller, returning for the first time since a knee injury three weeks ago, added two goals in 20 minutes for the Rams… . Also in the GNL, Sara Sheridan scored four times, for a league-leading 21 goals, and Pullman (7-1) defeated visiting Chewelah 8-0. Pullman’s Jamie McEldowney sprained her ankle and left the game at 64 minutes. Her status for upcoming matches is unknown… . Brooke Yancey had one goal and one assist, and Lakeside (5-3) scored three times within 9 minutes for a 3-0 win at Medical Lake.