Bears overcome two-game deficit, stay perfect

The Moscow Bears are getting used to uncharted territory.

The Inland Empire League champions entered the State 4A volleyball tournament at Lake City High on Friday with a 25-0 record. What’s more, the Bears had been pushed to four games in a best-of-5 match just twice.

So when they suddenly found themselves down two games to none in their second-round match with state tournament nemesis Bonneville, there were a few stunned faces.

“When you’re undefeated like we are, you’re not sure just how the team is going to react to adversity,” coach Aimee Graham said. “And to be honest, I don’t think we did those first two games.”

Moscow had momentum late in each of the first two games, but committed unforced errors to allow Bonneville to take over and put games away – 25-22 and 25-23.

“I think it came down to the seniors on this team and we looked at each other and we decided that we just didn’t know how to lose,” senior outside hitter Meredith Dolny said. “And we figured, why start now?”

Behind the infectious optimism of Dolny and her sophomore sister Maddie, the team’s setter, Moscow staged a thrilling comeback to advance unbeaten into Saturday play for the first time.

Moscow swept the final three games of the match 25-22, 25-23 and 15-8.

The victory avenges a loss to the Bees in last year’s tournament.

“We lost to them the last two tournaments,” Graham said. “Last year it was in this exact game.”

Graham said she learned something from those past state losses.

“I made a few changes – little things,” she said. “They attacked our right side like no one has all year, so I switched a few things there. But for the most part, I didn’t make as many changes as I could have. I’ve learned that lesson the hard way – too many little changes like that and suddenly your team is thinking about all that and it gets away from doing what it does well.”

Against the Bees, it was play defense.

“Defense won this match,” Meredith Dolny said. “Both teams have weapons up front and both teams can make plays. Where we won this match was by playing good defense.”

Dolny turned in a half-dozen blocks, 16 kills and 25 digs to lead Moscow. Kelsey Taylor, the Bears’ 6-foot-3 middle blocker, rained down 17 kills and made six blocks.

Moscow plays Skyview, a three-set winner over Century, today at noon at Lake City, with the winner advancing to tonight’s 5:30 championship game.

Kuna, which dropped the tournament opener to defending champion Bonneville, stayed alive by eliminating Jerome in three games.

Lakeland, making its first appearance in the state tournament since 2002 and its first in Class 4A, lost its opener to Century in four games. The Hawks then lost to Madison in a late loser-out match, 26-24, 25-20, 23-25, 25-22.