It was no secret, coming into this COVID-shortened and delayed season, that Sweet Home’s volleyball team should be one of the top teams in the state.
But after last week, the Huskies literally are.
“Wow, what a crazy, busy week,” said Coach Mary Hutchins after her team had beaten Philomath on Monday, Sisters on Wednesday and undefeated 6A-Division Sheldon on Friday, the latter in the Irish gym.
Sweet Home 3, Sisters 0
After a disappointing loss to the Outlaws on the road, it was pretty obvious that the Huskies were primed to even the score
“We had been preparing for Sisters, I think, every single day since we had played them there,” Hutchins said. “The girls had been ready to play them again and there is always a lot of emotion and ‘perceived pressure’ when we have a game with them.”
Whatever pressure was present Wednesday seemed to be focused right at the visitors, who fell 25-13, 25-17 and 25-21.
“I did not envision beating them in straight sets and with the scores we did,” Hutchins said. “It was one of those games that we had really formed a game plan based off a ton of film and habits observed from our previous game and we executed that plan and it paid off.
“Every time we play them it is a battle feeling and that is a compliment to both teams and what they bring to the table. Both teams have a high volleyball IQ, seasoned experienced players, and a competitive drive to succeed.”
The Outlaws missed some serves in the first set, which gave Sweet Home and extra boost.
“Our kids had passion and fire from the very first point,” Hutchins said. “It felt like a championship game feeling, with every point being celebrated so hard by both teams. My players really stepped up and supported each other and stayed focused on the goal.
“We got a consistent block up that was missing when we played them in Sisters and that really helped us every set.
“Everyone did their job and it was a truly amazing game for us – a great memory the kids will always have.”
Sweet Home 3, Sheldon 2
The match with the Irish was a late addition to the Huskies’ schedule and Hutchins said her team was so focused on beating Sisters that they hadn’t paid much attention to the match looming on Friday.
Sheldon came into the match undefeated in 6A Southwest Conference play with an 8-0, having lost just two games on the season in its only close match, a 3-2 win over North Eugene.
“I was a little worried playing on a Friday after such a long, busy week but the kids stepped up and were ready,” Hutchins said. “We had decided we would kind of use the first set as a measuring tool to see what Sheldon had to offer and what they did and ran. During the warmup we kind of observed and vocalized who we thought their hitters might be.”
The Huskies got off to a “rough” start, she said, losing the first game 25-14.
“We got down early and about midway through the first set we started figuring this team out,” Hutchins said. “We started scoring on them and hitting around their block. At the end of the first set, I told the team that they had the skills and talent to compete with this team and even beat them.
Sweet Home roared back to win the next set 25-11 as the Huskies displayed “leadership and girls stepping up in big ways,” Hutchins said.
“Our hitters started firing and our defense started figuring out where their hitters liked to go. I think we stunned them after that first set and we won by quite a big margin.”
The rest of the match was “neck and neck,” she said. Sweet Home won the third set 25-23, then dropped the fourth 25-22.
Coming down to finish in the final set, they fought off a couple of match points to win 17-15.
“This game was such a great win in so many ways,” said Hutchins, whose team had had little opportunity to hone their skills against opposition that, other than Sisters, couldn’t win a game against them.
” It was probably the best week of this whole season so far. These girls were able to take on a pretty solid 6A team that they had never played and walk into their gym and take the time as a team to figure out what they need to do to win and then complete the task.
“They played with heart and determination and they didn’t get rattled by that big first set margin. I was so proud of them.”
Sweet Home is the top seed in the 4A playoff tournament, hosting Cottage Grove Tuesday evening. First-round winners will move on to play Thursday and Saturday in either the championship or consolation brackets (see accompanying story).