Bears topple Bulldogs in five set championship
(Photo by ERIC PLUMMER) Grace Hicks, pictured earlier in the season, had a huge night in defeat as the Bulldogs season came to an end in Moscow on Thursday night in a hard-fought five set loss.
MOSCOW — The Bulldogs played rock solid, including 95 serves on the night with only one error, but the host Bears simply played a little better, winning 25-22, 19-25, 25-15, 21-25, 15-7 in a tight championship match at the 4A Region 1 volleyball tournament Thursday night at the Bear Den.
Grace Hicks had a big night with 14 kills, 23 assists, 20 digs and five blocks to lead the No. 2 seed Bulldogs (13-18), whose season came to and end with a hard-fought loss.
Sandpoint head coach Erin Roos felt her team came ready to play, but the No. 1 seed Bears were up for the challenge in a match that could have gone either way.
“We really fought. They were focused,” said Roos. “Moscow just tipped all night long, and it took us a while to adjust.”
Marina Breuner helped set the attack with 24 assists to go with three aces, Kaitlan Ward anchored the back line with 27 digs, while Shelby Kluver added nine kills and two aces, Grace Kirscher eight kills and five blocks and Jazmin Stockton seven kills and two aces in defeat.
No season-ending loss is easy to take, but when your team plays well, it stings a little less and Roos felt that was the case on Thursday night.
“They were being aggressive, focused, calling out hitters,” she said. “They communicated well and came to compete.”
While a trip to state wasn’t in the cards this season, the team returns five juniors who saw a lot of playing time and some underclassmen who show some promise.