Sweet Home’s volleyball team raised its season record to 6-0, and retained its No. 1 state ranking, opening the league schedule last week with wins at home over Woodburn on Tuesday (25-9, 25-14, 25-10) and at No. 4 Philomath Thursday (25-18, 25-17, 25-9).
The Huskies pulled heavily from the bench against Woodburn.
“We just gave people opportunities to play in different lineups and work on some different positions,” Head Coach Mary Hutchins said.
The Bulldogs held a brief one-point lead in the second game, but Sweet Home pulled away for a decisive win.
Though the scores may not indicate it, against Philomath, the Huskies struggled with their serve-receive, but did a good job at the net, blocking and hitting off the block, and covering, Hutchins said.
“The girls basically fought for the win. Philomath is tall and has a huge block. They serve tough. We definitely struggled and played out of system mos tof the time.”
In the third set, with the teams tied 7-7, Sweet Home finally pulled away and went on a “big” run to the 25-9 win, she said.
“We got a lead and just finished.”
Sweet Home and Valley Catholic, the defending state champions and currently ranked No. 2, are the only teams left in the state 4A division that have not lost a set this season.
The Huskies will be on the road, at Stayton and then in a nonleague matchup at No. 10 Molalla this week before spending Saturday at the Sisters Tournament. They will play at Cascade Monday, Sept. 23, then will host (now No. 5) Sisters on Thursday, Sept. 26.
“We have some challenging games ahead and a lot of travel, so we need to tighten some things up,” Hutchins said.