Tigers on the prowl

It’s certainly a different feel watching the Lewis and Clark Tigers play volleyball this season.

The two-time State 4A runner-up Tigers lost some key components after last season, as did five-time defending state champion Mead and several other teams around the Greater Spokane League.

What hasn’t changed for the Tigers, though, is their ability to win.

Led by senior Oceana Bush’s 15 kills and 19 digs, the host Tigers topped the Mt. Spokane Wildcats in four games on Tuesday night in GSL play.

“I thought overall, we looked really, really good,” LC coach Julie Yearout said after her Tigers defeated the Wildcats 25-19, 25-10, 22-25 and 25-22.

Libero Mariah Westlake turned in a solid defensive effort for LC, leading all players with 21 digs, and senior Chloe Rowand finished with 10 kills and seven blocks.

After Mt. Spokane and LC traded points early in the first set, Rowand served the Tigers on a 7-0 run that included two crosscourt kills from Bush and two blocks from junior middle Janele Vogt to give LC an 11-5 lead.

The Tigers (2-0) rolled from there, and it continued into the second game, which they won easily.

“The way we moved the ball around in Game 2 was so great to see,” Yearout said. “I thought (setter) Hilary (Koenigs) did a great job and I think when we play the way we did in that game it’s hard to stop all of our weapons.”

But as the Wildcats (1-1) proved, they’ve got some weapons of their own.

Mt. Spokane has five sophomores and three juniors on its roster. The Wildcats played scrappy defense and battled back to win the third set, and even challenge the Tigers in the fourth and final set.

Mt. Spokane was led by senior Kellee Bates, who finished with 12 kills.

“We played really well,” said Bates, who was celebrating her birthday. “What I really like about it is our team is so young, and it shows me how great our team is going to be as the season goes on. It’s really exciting. We have so much further to go.”

The Tigers will be tested on Friday night when they host East Valley. Mead, EV and LC are the only unbeaten teams left in league play.

•Morgan Nitta’s 38 assists and two blocks and Emily Hamad’s 16 kills helped Gonzaga Prep (1-1) to a 25-23, 18-25, 18-25, 25-19, 17-15 victory over North Central at Gonzaga Prep. Ashley Sillivan paced the Indians (0-2) with nine kills and six aces and Alicia Allen recorded 23 digs to lead all players.

•A collective effort kept East Valley undefeated in league play as the Knights (2-0) defeated University 25-16, 25-20, 25-13. Allie Riggin had 12 kills, Kelsey Kurtz recorded 30 assists and Kirsten Kelly finished with 11 digs in the sweep over the Titans (1-1), who were led by Chenise Pakootas’ six kills, three blocks and two aces.

•Lindsay Niemeier dished out 25 assists and Amy Before and Nikki Urquhart had eight kills apiece as Shadle Park (1-1) defeated Ferris 25-16, 25-10, 23-25, 25-16 at Ferris. Kiley Kamitomo led Ferris (0-2) with 13 kills, two aces and three blocks.

•Alexis Olgard finished with 10 kills, four aces, six digs and six blocks to lead Mead (2-0) to a 25-8, 25-10, 25-6 victory over Rogers (0-1) at Mead. Samantha Roybal led Rogers with a pair of aces, two kills and a block.

Inland Empire League: Visiting Sandpoint (6-1), behind eight kills from Piper Wahlin, swept Post Falls (0-6) 26-24, 25-14, 25-19. Wahlin led Sandpoint with eight kills and Amanda Jibby led the Trojans with seven. Sandpoint’s Abby Helander had a match-high 17 digs. … At Moscow, Lewiston (2-4) bounced back from a first-game loss to top the Bears 16-25, 25-22, 25-17, 25-18. Brigette Lowe led Moscow (4-3) with 17 kills.

Intermountain League: After dropping the opening game, league-leading St. Maries stopped Timberlake 20-25, 25-19. 25-10, 25-15 at Spirit Lake. The Lumberjacks improved to 4-0. Megan Hill led Timberlake (1-3) with eight kills.

Great Northern League: West Valley swept visiting Cheney 25-21, 25-11, 25-17. Shaniqua Nilles led the Eagles (2-1) with 17 kills. Millie Holy had three aces for Cheney (0-3). In another league match, visiting Clarkston (1-3) held off Medical Lake (0-3) in a five-game marathon as the Bantams prevailed 25-17, 21-25, 25-10, 23-25, 15-8.