Siuslaw hosts South Umpqua at 6 tonight


 

Sophomore Maci Wells has stepped in and done a strong job at libero for injured senior Ali Scheer. Kelly Potter photo

Siuslaw Vikings setter Hannah Bartlett doesn't see many fellow seniors when she takes the court, but what she does see she likes.

"We're kind of a young team, but I feel we have a lot of energy, and that's really important," Bartlett said Tuesday, after Siuslaw swept the visiting North Bend Bulldogs, 25-13, 25-22, 25-21.

"You can have experienced players, but if you don't have that connection, don't bring the energy, then you're not going to play well together."

The win gave the Vikings a share of second place with South Umpqua after the first of two rounds of Far West League girls volleyball play at 3-2.

Siuslaw opens second-round play Thursday against South Umpqua, a team the Vikings beat 3-1 to open league play, 20-25, 25-19, 25-17, 25-19, in Myrtle Creek.

Marshfield leads the league at 5-0, with North Bend and Douglas at 2-3 and Brookings-Harbor 0-5.

"I'm hoping this will put us in good position for the second round," Siuslaw coach Angie Herring said. "I"m looking forward to going back and playing all those teams again."

Three of those matches will be at home, Thursday vs. South Umpqua, Oct. 8 vs. Brookings-Harbor and Oct. 13 vs. Douglas. The other two are down the road, next Tuesday in Coos Bay against Marshfield, and Oct. 15 in a rematch with the Bulldogs in North Bend.

This week's two home matches offer a refreshing breather after last week's grind, which included trips to Brookings and Winston for league matches with Brookings-Harbor and Douglas, then nonleague matches Saturday in Grants Pass against Hidden Valley and Cottage Grove.

At one point in last week's long tour, half the Vikings starters and a key reserve were on the sidelines with ailments.

"We have two players back today, and could have the other two back for Thursday," Herring said. "This is the point of the season that we want to get stronger, stronger, stronger, keep going all the way to the end."

Bartlett, the lone starting senior Tuesday, had 19 assists and junior Elyssa Rose had 3 blocks and 13 kills, including one to end the match.

"I didn't play over the weekend," Rose said. "But now I'm back, and I feel my hitting is stronger."

Herring praised two of her sophomores, outside hitter Emma Collins, who had 5 kills and 3 blocks, and Maci Wells, who had 11 digs and an ace.

"Emma was really being aggressive, and going after the ball," Herring said. "I was really happy to see that.

"Maci has been stepping in at libero (for injured senior Ali Scheer). It's a new position for her, and she's done a great job."

With the team nearing full health, players and coach can't help but be optimistic.

"I'm definitely hoping we can go to the playoffs, and I definitely think we could even make it to the state tournament," Rose said. "I think we just need to give it all we have."

Added Bartlett, who, like Rose, was first-team all-league in 2014:

"We are really excited to have our base team back. We were ready to play aggressively tonight."

Herring took note.

"I felt like we really wanted to go out after (North Bend) and play well," she said. "We didn't have many breakdowns. And when we did make a mistake, we bounced right back. We battled well all night."

The two teams battled nearly even midway through Game 1, when the Vikings extended a 15-12 lead to 22-13 with junior Claire Waggoner serving. Junior Abby Watkins came off the bench to serve the final two points, the last an ace to put the Vikings up 1-0.

The Lady Bulldogs held a five-point lead several times in Game 2 before Siuslaw went ahead for good at 19-18, eventually putting the game away on a stuff and a kill by Collins.

In Game 3, the Vikings took a 7-6 lead and never trailed again, Rose capping the sweep with a resounding kill.




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