Sandpoint wins first encounter with Vikings
Perhaps it’s too early to tell how good the Sandpoint and Coeur d’Alene volleyball teams are at this point.
After all, the Inland Empire League showdown Tuesday was the second match for both teams.
This much is evident: They’re both going to be better teams in time. But it was obvious that the reigning 4A state champion Bulldogs were the better team Tuesday.
Sandpoint spread the offense around and had few difficulties on defense as the Bulldogs pulled away from the Vikings 25-15, 17-25, 25-11, 25-18 at Elmer Jordan Court.
The league rematch is in three weeks at Sandpoint. Both teams should have a few more kinks worked out by then.
“I’m glad we didn’t put ourselves in position to have to go to game five,” Sandpoint coach Karen Alsager said. “So that was good control. We did some good things (and) we did some not so good things.”
Sandpoint (2-0 overall and league) benefited from six different players taking swings, while the Vikings’ top two returning hitters had off games.
It was a typically slow start, though, for the Bulldogs. CdA (1-1, 1-1) opened an 8-3 lead in the first game before Sandpoint took the lead for good at 14-13.
“We’re a slow-starting team. We can’t get out of the gate,” Alsager said. “I don’t actually get nervous about it because so far it’s been our history (the last two years). I try not to get too excited about it. It’s the way we play.”
Once it took the lead, Sandpoint outscored the Vikings 12-2 to finish the game.
CdA took advantage of the Bulldogs’ errors in the second game to pull the match even. The Vikings ran off the final six points, capped by back-to-back aces from junior Maggie Reno.
But CdA couldn’t keep the momentum going in the third game. Sandpoint opened a 9-3 advantage and didn’t look back.
In the final game, two kills by junior Kama Griffitts allowed CdA to pull within two at 16-14. Moments later, the Vikings had two opportunities to tie the score, but Sandpoint used a 7-1 spurt to end the match.
Alsager was concerned Griffitts’ kills might get her untracked and allow CdA to extend the match.
“When (Griffitts) gets hot …” Alsager said, before trailing off. “It’s probably best that there was enough of a lead there because she may (have been) able to push it into game five the way she was hitting there.”
CdA coach Carly Curtis said her team didn’t play like it had practiced.
“I must say I was a little disappointed in the way our team came out and played,” Curtis said. “We really had been practicing well all week and really had a game plan. You could tell they were a little tense and maybe a little nervous for this first (match) at home. When you play safe, obviously you don’t win games.”
Sophomore outside hitter Piper Wahlin led Sandpoint with six kills and sophomore setter/rightside hitter Koko James had five. Junior middle hitter Shelby Robb had eight kills to lead CdA.
“Obviously, I’m going to give props to Sandpoint – they’re a good team,” Curtis said. “But I also think we’re a good team. If we’re going to come out and play a good team, we’ve got to come out and play together and all be playing at the top of our game rather than just a few people. And I think that was the big difference.”
“Also in the IEL, Breezy Stecker had a game-high 25 assists and five aces as Lakeland topped host Lake City 25-15, 25-20, 22-25, 25-18. Ali Whitted added eight kills and Jordan Kelsey had six blocks for the Hawks (1-1). Sam Georgius led the Timberwolves (2-1) with 14 assists and three aces.