Spikers sweep Holy Names

Published 6:00 am Wednesday, October 11, 2006

After a setback to Blanchet, the team rebounds to place first in tournament play.

It didn’t take long for the Bainbridge volleyball team to get back on the winning track after their loss to Bishop Blanchet two weeks ago.

They’ve won three matches in a row including Friday’s sweep of Holy Names by the scores of 25-9, 25-22 and 25-19 and even took first place in the Mark Morris Challenge in Longview the weekend of Sept. 30.

The last time the two teams met, Bainbridge won the first two games before dropping the next two, but took the fifth game for the win.

“I’m so much happier this time,” said setter Ally Post. “We played a lot better, so it’s really great.”

Against the Cougars, the Spartans jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the first game and didn’t look back. Holy Names could only get within four points before several errors and the duo of outside hitters Hannah Stuart and Kelcey Dunaway did the rest.

In the second game, Bainbridge got out to a 6-0 lead, but Holy Names kept chipping away at the lead.

The Cougars got within two points of the lead thanks to two kills and an ace, but Stuart put the game away on a kill at match point.

Holy Names took advantage of some Bainbridge errors in the third game to go up 7-0, but the Spartans got back into the game to tie it up at 11 on kills by Stuart, Marijke Schwarz-Smith, Lindsey Bratonia and a block by Dunaway.

The Cougars went back ahead by three, but Stuart and Dunaway combined to help the Spartans retake the lead for good.

Schwarz-Smith scored the game winning kill on match point.

Post said their improvement in the passing game showed against Holy Names.

“We passed a lot better than we normally do,” she said. “Passing is the key, so it was really great that we did that. As a setter, it really helps me out.”

Head coach Julie Miller said playing against fast teams in the Challenge should make them better down the line.

“I think the better the team, I think we’ll be able to rise to the occasion,” she said.

Against Eastside Catholic last Wednesday, however, Miller felt they didn’t play their best because the game went at a much slower tempo.

“Because that win was so cool and it was such a fast-paced game that on Wednesday, that game was so slow, that it was really hard for them to concentrate,” she said. “This (game against Holy Names) was a little bit faster, so that was nice.”

Post finished with 27 assists, nine digs and four aces. Stuart finished with 19 kills and 12 digs while Dunaway had seven kills and six blocks. Becky Gottleib had 18 digs.

Against Lakeside Sept. 29, Bainbridge swept them by the scores of 25-17, 25-21 and 25-13.

Stuart had 12 kills, seven digs and six aces, while Dunaway had eight kills, five aces and two blocks. Schwarz-Smith had six kills, two aces and two blocks. Post had 19 assists and three aces.

At the Mark Morris Challenge, Bainbridge beat Tumwater, Sequim and split with LaConner in pool play, then defeated Timberline and Columbia River in bracket play.

In the championship match against LaConner, Bainbridge won by the scores of 24-26, 25-22 and 15-13, overcoming a 10-3 deficit to win.

Stuart finished with 54 kills and 11 aces for the tournament, while Schwarz-Smith had 28 kills and seven aces.

Dunaway finished with 38 kills, 13 aces and 16 blocks. Post finished with 111 assists and 40 digs. Hillary Grant had 39 digs.

The Spartans travel to Seattle Prep Wednesday and Bishop Blanchet on Friday. They return home for their last home match of the season against Lakeside Oct. 18. Game time is at 6 p.m.