Early fits and starts for BHS spikers

"Playing in fits and starts this season, BHS volleyball has the potential, but not always the execution.After a Friday loss to Central Kitsap and a fourth place out of eight teams in last weekend's White River tournament, coach Julie Miller blamed plain old inconsistency.They're really hot and cold, Miller said. We've got one half really intense and the other half not so intense. Everybody needs to get on the same path. "

“Playing in fits and starts this season, BHS volleyball has the potential, but not always the execution.After a Friday loss to Central Kitsap and a fourth place out of eight teams in last weekend’s White River tournament, coach Julie Miller blamed plain old inconsistency.They’re really hot and cold, Miller said. We’ve got one half really intense and the other half not so intense. Everybody needs to get on the same path.The Central Kitsap loss came in five games, at 1-15, 2-15, 15-10, 15-11, 9-15. The Spartans got off to a slow start in the first two games, took the second two and fell in the fifth.Bainbridge was originally scheduled to play Thursday night, but a wind-related power outage postponed the match until Friday.They were really ready to play on Thursday, Miller said. It’s hard to do, to mentally get up for a game and then have to re-up the next day.Miller described the first, second and fifth games as slow, with the Spartans tentative on their hits and lead-footed.They need to get consistent and get together, Miller said.Kristina and Michelle Purdom led the pack with eight kills each.At the White River tournament, the Spartans defeated Yelm and Peninsula and lost to White River and Sequim. Sarah Frazee racked up 20 kills for the day, while Carlie Miller gave 23 assists.Their next match is Tuesday night against North Kitsap.Polo squad takes sixth at tourneyThese days, playing is learning for boys’ water polo.They placed sixth out of 12 teams at the Mercer Island invitational last weekend, winning two and losing three.I thought we really played well, said coach Jeff Clark. We only lost by nine points in the tournament overall.Losing by one goal to Eastide Catholic and Bellevue, both in the final minutes of the game, wasn’t so painful, and their 12-6 loss to Newport was actually an improvement from the 17-4 loss to the same team on Sept. 10.We played a lot better than we did the first few games, Clark said. Bellevue is one of the top teams and we really pushed and limited them – I was proud of the way we played.The Spartans took Mercer Island’s B team 9-6 and Sunset 7-6 in sudden death, with Eric Steinecker scoring the final shot. The senior scored seven times throughout the tournament, with 10 steals. Nake Rooks was good for 14 goals and Jeff Christiansen scored six goals and made 14 steals.Adam Gunn ranked in the tournament’s top five goalies with 27 saves.We learned we can still play, which was a little boost of confidence, Clark said. We learned that our initial losses don’t indicate our ability and we still haven’t had much chance to practice.They’ll get their opportunity, however, before their Thursday game against Bellevue.We’ll be in our own pool this time, Clark said. We’ll see what we’ve learned and if we can apply it.Rhodes survives rude motoristsBlistered lips, constant headwinds and a distinct lack of automotive courtesy made Steve Rhodes’ 19-day cycle across the U.S. a hard, hard trip.Rhodes rode as a fundraiser for the Harborview Burn Unit, the Compass Center and Helpline House, looking to raise $100,000.Averaging 180 miles a day, Rhodes actually spent 17.5 days actually riding, but spent a day and a half in his hometown of Lafayette, Indiana. I did some stuff for the news, and it was pretty amazing, he said. For years, I was the biggest drunk in town.Rhodes stopped drinking seven years ago and since has become a professional bicycle rider. Along with support person Andrew Muth, Rhodes survived the dangers of a cross-country ride, including a crash.It was in Wyoming, and I flipped going about 25 miles and hour – thank God for helmets, he said.Rude drivers were also a problem, though Ohio and West Virginia tended to be more polite.I think it was because they were poorer, Rhodes said. The fancier the vehicles, the ruder they are.Trucks plowing by were also a problem, especially on narrow roads. All the way through Nebraska I was bitching about the shoulder, and then when I got to Iowa, there was no shoulder.On an average day, Rhodes rode 100 miles before lunch, then set a final goal for the day.Muth would prepare the hotel room where Rhodes arrived to drink calorie drinks, shower, eat, get a massage, and keep his legs up in the air for 20 minutes before heading straight to bed.Rhodes said he couldn’t have finished the trip without the support of his sponsors.I’m so glad it’s over, he said. And I’m so glad I did it, and if anyone wants to do this trip, I’ll tell them how not to go.Varsity gridders routed at LakesLakes delivered its annual defeat to Bainbridge Friday, racing to a 45-0 first quarter lead and a 68-12 final.Sophomore Andy Aversano put the Spartans on the scoreboard in the fourth quarter, followed by junior Kenny Walker. “