The Husky volleyball team played cold, losing to Stayton and Sisters on the road, last week.
“We went out really cold and (were) intimidated because they’ve got these behemoth girls,” Coach Heide Nichol said of the Stayton game on Tuesday.
“That kind of put us more tentative than we should have been,” Coach Nichol said. The girls started to get control in the third game, but Stayton rallied to win the game and finish the match.
The Huskies lost 25-18, 25-18 and 25-22.
“Hannah Swanson had a great game,” Coach Nichol said. “Because she plays so well and is aggressive, she was able to block” and go 14-16 hitting with six kills.
Kari McGuyre went 12-14 and added another eight kills.
“We’re getting more kills, and that’s what I see improving,” Coach Nichol said. The Husky offense has been improving, but now, “we need to work on our defense again.”
On defense, Alisha Basham had 24 digs.
Though improving, the offense was still limited.
“We really could only attack on the outside, which makes it so blockers can camp out on our outside hitters,” Coach Nichol said.
Serving, Swanson led with 9-9 and one ace. Cait Thireault served 10-11. Nicki Emmert served 12-13 with four aces.
Emmert, the team’s setter, led in assists and “really she did a great job of putting the ball up on the outside,” Coach Nichol said, but she also went 13-13 with hits, dumps and chips and two kills.
Against Sisters, the Husky serve iced over, serving just 32-38 compared to 53-57 against Stayton. The Huskies lost 25-10, 25-12 and 25-16.
“We really didn’t have much offense from the serving standpoint,” Coach Nichol said. “We just weren’t there.”
Michelle Cliver served 7-8 to lead Huskies. Chelsea Gagner and Swanson served 4-5. Swanson had the only two aces of the game.
“Chelsea’s been doing a really good job for us,” Coach Nichol said. She was 18-23 on serve receive during Thursday’s outing. Basham was 14-18 and had seven digs. Gagner had six digs. Swanson and Elissa McCartin had five digs each.
Hitting, McCartin went 12-16 with three kills. Gagner was 7-9. Swanson was 5-6 with a kill, and C. Thireault was 5-7.
“It was just a really hard night getting going,” Coach Nichol said.
The Huskies are 2-4 in league play, Coach Nichol said. “Our hope of making league playoffs is definitely not gone. We’re right in there to make league playoffs. The girls have the tools, and hopefully when the pressure’s on, we’ll perform.”
The Huskies must finish fourth in league to make playoffs, Coach Nichol said. “We just have to beat the teams we beat before. If we picked up another team, that would be the icing on the cake.”
The Huskies previously beat Molalla and North Marion, but Molalla could be more difficult next time around. The last time the Huskies met Molalla, the Indians had some girls suspended from playing.
The junior varsity defeated Sisters 27-25, 25-22. The freshmen defeated Sisters 25-23 and 25-17. Both teams defeated Stayton.
“The junior varsity especially has been very strong,” Coach Nichol said. “They’re passing has been fairly consistent. They’re just not making many mistakes.”
The freshman team is doing well too, focused and improving, Coach Nichol said, although the coaches have messed with the team a bit, bringing players up to the JV level.