It was a tough week for the Sweet Home volleyball team last week as the Huskies lost to the league’s top two teams, 3-0 at Sutherlin and 3-0 to Sisters at home.
At Sutherlin, the hosts took the first game 25-17, buried Sweet Home 25-7 in the second and then outlasted a comeback attempt 25-22 to win three and out.
“We could have played a lot better,” Coach Alicia Meier said. “There are so many things you can blame it on, like the long trip down there, but we didn’t show up to play.”
“They got four more points in the three games they played with Sisters than we did. We should be able to play a lot better next time we see them.”
Against the Outlaws, one of the favorites for the state title, the Huskies had more difficulties, losing 25-11, 25-14 and 25-10 in front of their home crowd. But Meier said her team is learning as they go.
“One thing we can take out of this is what to do next time to be in there with them,” she said. “It just comes down to trust for us – trusting teammates and believing she’s going to be there. I feel like we’re trying to overdo it sometimes.”
This week Sweet Home is hosting Junction City on Tuesday after losing to the Tigers in the first round of league at their gym.
“It will be a good test,” Meier said. Sweet Home, Junction City and Cottage Grove were tied for third at 2-4 in league going into this week’s games.
On Thursday, the Huskies will host Stayton in a make-up match from earlier in the season. It will also be a pink-out night for the Huskies.
“Stayton has some tall girls so it will be good to see how we hit against tall blockers,” Meier said. “Of we believe in ourselves, we could go a long way. Little things are happening. It’s just a process.”