Sweet Home’s volleyball team won two matches last week, against Elmira and Junction City, to move into a second-place tie with Sutherlin.
Now the question is whether the Huskies can hold that spot as they move into what could prove the toughest stretch in their schedule: road games at Sisters, Sutherlin and Cottage Grove, all of whom beat Sweet Home during the first round of league games.
“We have to knock somebody off to have a chance,” Coach Mary Hutchins said.
Due to the Huskies’ state ranking – ___________ going into this week, the Huskies have to finish higher than fourth in the Sky-Em League to make the playoffs.
Sweet Home 3, Elmira 0
The Huskies “showed up to win” on the road Oct. 4 after a “good practice” the previous day, Hutchins said.
“We talked about playing on the road the last half of the season. We’re trying to be mentally and physically tougher.”
The Falcons put up some resistance as Sweet Home won the first game 25-20, but the Huskies made short work of their opponents in the next two, winning 25-12, 25-11.
Ally Tow led the team with 10 kills, and Kayley Lopez added nine more, with Madi Barringer contributing five kills and three blocks in the effort.
“Overall, the whole team played really well,” Hutchins said. “We just clicked. I was really proud of their effort.”
She said setters Sunhee Bitter and Caylie Trewin were big contributors.
“We really, really worked with our setters on their quickness, on getting to the ball faster, which gives them more time to make a good decision, a good set. They really did a good job in that game and at Junction City.”
Sweet Home 3, Junction City 2
On the road again, the Huskies faced a team on Oct. 6 that was coming off a big upset against Sutherlin.
“They were enthusiastic and motivated,” Hutchins said. “It told the girls that the only way the upset of Sutherlin would help us out would be to beat Junction City.”
It was a battle, but the Huskies pulled it off, 23-25, 27-25, 21-25, 25-14, 15-3.
Hutchins said she was disappointed that her team got off to a bad start by losing the first game.
“I felt we had that game,” she said. “It was nice to see them come back in Game 2.”
In the third game, Sweet Home lost its momentum and found itself down 19-9, before fighting back.
“We got ourselves into a huge hole, got out of our game,” Hutchins said. “After numerous time-outs, we got back into our game plan, the things we do well.”
Sweet Home went into Game 4 with momentum flowing again and finished the Tigers off, thanks in part to 10 straight serves by Lopez.
“We got on top mentally and executed on those points,” the coach said.
It was a team effort.
Lopez and Tow led the team with 14 kills/six blocks and 12 kills/four blocks respectively. Also contributing big was Natasha Rasmussen, who had six kills and three blocks, and Barringer, who contributed five kills and three blocks.
“Several of the other girls, in supporting roles, stepped up and picked up balls and contributed to rallies,” Hutchins said. “I was very impressed with the whole team.”
Sweet Home, the first 4A team to take a game off Sisters this year, gets another shot at the Outlaws in their home gym on Tuesday, Oct. 11, followed by the Huskies’ last home game, against Sutherlin, at 6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 13. The Huskies are also scheduled to play their fourth tournament of the season Saturday at Philomath.