Sweet Home’s volleyball team ran the table in the preseason, beating Cascade and Philomath on their own courts last week to take a 4-0 mark into its first league matchup at Sisters on Tuesday.
Sisters was 6-2 as of Monday, after losing pre-season matches to Crook County, last year’s 4A state champion, and Summit, a 5A school.
Otherwise, the Outlaws had not lost a set to a 4A school going into their matchup with Sweet Home, which likewise had not lost a set in its four matches.
“The girls are really playing well together,” Sweet Home Coach Alicia Meier said Monday. “They’re really looking forward to playing Sisters on Tuesday.”
Sweet Home 3, Philomath 0
On Thursday at Philomath, the Huskies strung together a fairly decisive set of wins, 25-15, 25-21 and 25-20 in a match in which Meier said she was able to play her entire varsity squad.
“That was kind of nice,” she said.
Annie Whitfield “really stepped up and played well” to lead Sweet Home with 11 kills, nine digs and perfect 12-12 serving.
“She was doing really well,” Meier said. “She’s just a great player and it’s nice when she plays a good game. Everybody picks up on her.”
Tiffany Miller had 34 assists and served three aces in 11 attempts, in addition to three kills.
Brandy Trewin and Devyn Makin added six kills each.
Sweet Home 3, Cascade 0
Against a senior-dominated team much like the Huskies, Sweet Home took it to the hosts, winning in straight sets 27-25, 25-17, 25-23.
“There were moments when we kind of let down,” Meier said. “In the first game we almost let them take it. But the girls stepped in and picked up their playing and got it.”
Whitfield led the Huskies with 10 kills and nine digs, and Trewin added nine kills, along with three blocks.
Miller contributed 30 assists, along with an ace as she went 10-10 from the service line.
“Cascade is really a good program,” Meier said. “They are just solid. They have strong fundamentals.
“One thing about us is we served really well. We only missed two serves and we had really good serve-receives.”
She said she was especially happy with the way the Huskies ramped up their offense agaisnt tough defenses at both Cascade and Philomath.
“Those were really good tests for us,” Meier said. “It’s good to see the girls step up our offense, not that it’s weak by any means, but defense is definitely what keeps them in games.”
“They’re definitely fully committed, their heads are in it. They are letting themselves enjoy their season. They’re focsuing on their offense and their blocking. They’re serving and receiving , those thing sare so important. I think they’re doing more chalenging serves than the other team and that’s making it more challenging for the other team.”