Last week, on their way to the start of Capital Conference play, the volleyball team had lessons to learn the hard way against stiff competition.
In all three cases, they had times where they shined and times when they struggled. At Newport, they started off slowly, losing 25-15. The Cubs scored eight of the last ten points, many on Husky misplays. Nikki Emmert assisted Lisa Brocard on five kills, two from the backrow, plus a tip, but that was the only offense they could mount.
In game two, after a 15-15 tie, Sweet Home broke loose, starting with a string of four points on Kari McGuyre’s serves and ending with another four point run on Emmert’s serve. Four of those points came on Newport mishits, either long or into the net. Four others came on Brocard’s play of one kill, one tip after her shot was blocked at first, and then two defensive blocks. The Huskies went on to win that game 25-18.
It looked like the Huskies might continue their good play in the third game. After a long Sweet Home serve tied the game at 13-13, the Huskies came back for five straight points when Brocard worked her magic again. She had two kills, a tip, and a block in their run. But then Sweet Home’s momentum stopped with a sudden jolt. Passing difficulties throughout the rest of the game allowed Newport to score 12 of the next 14 points for the 25-20 win.
After playing even with the Cubs in the 4th game, the Huskies defense and offense disappeared. Newport had one run of nine and another of seven, all off a wide variety of ineffective Sweet Home play that gave the Cubs the final game 25-14.
Banks brought an even better team to the Sweet Home gym on Thursday. Their tough serves and strong net play gave them an easy win in the first game, 25-14. The Huskies didn’t generate any offense off their serve receive game. In the second game, Sweet Home stayed closer although the Braves’ solid net game figured into 12 points and their serves kept the Huskies in a protective mode. Brocard did manage 4 kills and Emmert had two dumps in their 25-21 loss.
In game three, just when Sweet Home’s tank appeared empty, they mounted a tremendous comeback. Down 17-10, they drew within one on McGuyre’s service rotation, which started with an ace. Newport had two mishits, but the Huskies also blocked Banks three times in that series.
After giving up some ground to Banks at 22-17, the Braves offense began to sputter, misfiring on three separate occasions. They exchanged points to reach 24 all. One more Banks error gave them a chance at game point but the Sweet Home serve went long. After Ashley Horn made a successful tip, they had another chance but this time Horn’s tip went out. Banks pulled off the final two points to win 28-26 on a Husky misplay at the net and a net violation.
Coach Heide Nichol realized they played a Banks team that could serve better than other teams they have faced and hit the ball deep or over the top of their blocks. But she still feels the Huskies have the capability of receiving and passing well and not just settling for returning easy three balls across the net.
“They just are not real confident yet,” said Nichol. “When we started to think we can play along with these teams and stopped shooting ourselves in the foot, then we competed against them.”
Setter Nikki Emmert thinks the team is beginning to progress in these areas.
“We are playing as a team and talking about things on the court rather than just trying to play our own game,” said Emmert. “It helps us stay positive, have fun, and not just give up.”
In the Crescent Valley tournament on Saturday, Sweet Home finished fourth among the seven teams. They faced a variety of competition, starting with their easiest match against West Albany, which they won 25-18, 25-20. Against a tougher Marist team, they split, winning the first game 25-21 but losing the second game on their own errors, 25-13. In the first game, Brocard had 5 kills, 2 blocks for points, and a jump service ace. Besides setting Brocard, Emmert dumped for two kills and Elissa McCartin had two kills and a tip.
In their third match, the Huskies let a weaker Glide team into the match and it cost them.
After leading 9-5, they made three unforced errors and couldn’t return two serves. Later they let Glide go on another run where they had trouble serve receiving and passing again. Down 20-14, Sweet Home made another comeback on McGuyre’s service. Two Glide errors plus three kills and a McGuyre ace tied the game at 20-20. But the Huskies lost 26-24 when they had passing problems again. Sweet Home dominated Glide in the final game 25-13 getting 4 kills from Brocard and two kills and a block from Horn.
The Huskies finished off their tournament against two very talented teams, losing to host Crescent Valley twice on identical scores of 25-18 and then falling to tall, powerful Santiam Christian, 25-20, 25-12. Sweet Home put up a fight against the top-rated Eagles, who had a couple of six foot players, leading at one point 17-15 after two blocks by Chelsea Gagner and two aces by Hannah Swanson. Santiam held up with six good plays at the net at the end of the game.
“When we watch a team that is better than us, it motivates us to play up to their level,” said McCartin.
Now it is just a matter if the Huskies are ready for league play. Kari McGuyre thinks they are.
“Some of the teams we played are better than the teams in our league,” she said. “Now that we have experience from those teams, we’re ready to take what our league has to give us.” Nichol thinks it is a matter of confidence and continued improvement.
“There are so many things that we need to continue to improve but we will,” said Nichol. “When they are confident, they can play with anybody in our league. If they show up unprepared and not mentally ready to play, it’s anybody’s game.”
League play begins with Cascade Tuesday and North Marion Thursday, both at home during Homecoming Week.