Mead stands alone at top after sweeping LC

In the eyes of volleyball coach Judy Kight, Mead’s three-game sweep of Lewis and Clark in a Greater Spokane League showdown between first-place teams may not have been particularly aesthetic.

But she couldn’t fault the panic-free effort of her Panthers, which made the 25-16, 25-17, 25-20 win on the road against the Tigers seem easier than it was.

“No, no, no, no. It wasn’t easy,” said Kight as Mead (5-0) became the GSL’s lone remaining unbeaten with the win. “They ended up just working and working and working, even if something wasn’t working in terms of our play sets and passing. They just kept at it and that’s important.”

The Panthers proved to be a little more solid on defense than the Tigers. It didn’t hurt to have a monster three-pronged night by middle blockers Erin Norris and Megan Thigpen and take-charge right-side hitter Nicole Solum.

Norris and Thigpen put down some thunderous hits at key times in the match. Solum had a game-high 15 kills, always seeming to blunt host LC when it began to gather momentum.

“We step up to the challenge,” Solum said. “We have a connection, just a really good connection.”

Mead scored the first four points of game one and rolled to a 10-2 lead, Solum with three kills. The score was 16-6 before LC could string together more than one point.

After Mead’s lead was cut to 20-14, it took command again. Like the baseball player who comes to bat after making a great defensive play, time and again Panthers who scored would be next up to serve.

Cassie Dobson did so this time, making a kill, followed by a service ace and three subsequent points to settle things.

In game two, LC led early 5-2 before Mead went on a 7-2 run that included a Norris boomer, two kills by Solum and another by Thigpen.

After tying the score, five straight LC mistakes put the Tigers in a hole and Mead went up 18-10. Solum had three kills down the stretch to put away that game.

Her team trailed late in the final game, but again Mead power took over. Behind 14-13, Solum had three kills and a block for points, then served as the team took a 22-17 lead. Thigpen and Norris polished it off.

“In previous games our outside hitters have been just awesome,” said Kight, “so it was nice to establish our middle attack a bit. That’s kind of what we’re working toward, to make sure everybody on the court is able to be a weapon, not just one or two people.”

It was evident at LC.

On a night of five-game tiebreaking matches host Ferris (3-2), playing three sophomores because of injuries, jumbled the middle of the league with a 20-25, 25-16, 14-25, 25-21, 16-14 win over Gonzaga Prep (3-2). The Saxons trailed 13-7 in the fifth game, but rallied to tie it at 14 and won it on kills by Jessica Bates and Karli Schwab…. Central Valley (4-1) thrust itself into the postseason hunt, winning a marathon 22-25, 28-26, 21-25, 28-26, 21-19 at University (2-3). The Bears fought off four match points in the deciding game, Allison Giusti with 23 digs and five service aces…. Shadle Park (4-1) survived a scare, also in five games, against visiting East Valley (1-4), 22-25, 25-15, 25-12, 24-26, 17-15. Stacey Andersen, who had 13 kills and 12 digs had the kill that put the Highlanders ahead in the fifth game. An EV hitting error ended the match… Cheney (1-4) won for the first time under new coach Holly Daniels, upsetting North Central (2-3) 25-20, 21-25, 25-21, 25-20. An eight-point run helped in the deciding contest. Tiffinee Hunley and Jenna Donnerberg combined for 35 digs for the Blackhawks and Megan Cogley had 20 kills and three blocks…. Strong serving was the key for Mt. Spokane (4-1) in a 25-8, 25-16, 25-18 sweep of visiting Rogers (0-5). The Wildcats had 22 aces, including four each by Monica Whitehead and Renee Schulthies…. West Valley (2-3) passed and served well, including 15 digs by Olivia Parvey, in a 25-13, 25-22, 25-20 sweep of visiting Clarkston (0-5).