Sweet Home’s volleyball team had a rough week, losing 3-1 to Sisters and then 3-0 to Sutherlin.
But the Huskies had a measure of satisfaction in being the first 4A school this season to take a game off the Outlaws.
After dropping their first game 25-17 to Sisters on Tuesday, Sept. 20, Sweet Home came back to down the Outlaws 25-23 in the second before dropping the third and fourth, 25-13, 25-21.
“I think the girls got caught up in that they forgot they had to go three games,” Coach Mary Hutchins said. “We actually played well.”
The Huskies struggled against Sisters’ big and experienced front, but they did manage some success in defending junior Hawley Harrer, the returning league Player of the Year.
“Overall, it’s the best we’ve played against them in a year,” Hutchins said.
Sweet Home tied the score 21-21 in the fourth game, but committed four hitting errors to end its chances of extending the match..
“To have that chance to take another off them and go five games was a big confidence booster,” she said.
Kaylie Lopez had 20 kills to lead the Huskies and Sweet Home served “really well.”
“They had trouble with Kaylie. They were triple-blocking her, and they were triple-blocking Ally (Tow) at one point.”
The crowd at the home match was “amazing,” she said. “It was a big moment for Sweet Home volleyball. They’ve been the kind of opponent we could not touch for years. I’m hoping we can use this and keep building.
“We did lose the match, but we felt like winners.”
Against Sutherlin on Thursday, Sept. 22, the Huskies struggled against the Bulldogs’ “different” fast-paced offense, losing 25-20, 25-20, 25-9.
“We practiced for that style, but we didn’t do a very good job,” Hutchins said. “We really struggled.”
On Saturday, at the Sisters Tournament, the Huskies made it into the championship bracket, defeating Yamhill-Carlton 2-0 before losing 1-2 to Cascade.
“I actually feel like we could have beaten Cascade,” Hutchins said, noting that she tried different line-ups to compensate for the absence of Lopez, who wasn’t there .
Sweet Home is now 6-4 overall, 1-2 in league as the Huskies host Cottage Grove Tuesday and Elmira on Thursday this week. They will also play in the Junction City Tournament on Saturday.