Friday, October 10, 2008

Mushers stay hot on the turnaround trail

Camas spikers dispatch Cutthroats in three


By JEFF CORDES
Express Staff Writer

Community School sophomore setter Julie Doan passes the ball during Tuesday’s Sawtooth Conference home match against Camas County, with teammate Meridith Pintler (right) looking on. Photo by David N. Seelig

It's been a rags-to-riches story for the 2008 Camas County Mushers volleyball team, which is coached for the first year by former College of Southern Idaho national championship coach Ben Stroud.

Camas County volleyball teams, after qualifying for the State 1A tournament three consecutive years from 1999-2001, have spent most of the current decade firmly lodged around the fifth seed of the seven-team 1A Northside Conference.

The fifth seed might get you a victory now and then in the season-ending league tournament, but it normally doesn't pay off with anything more. Last season, for instance, the Mushers ended up in last place in the conference, winning only three matches and going two-and-out in the Northside meet.

But Stroud's Mushers from Fairfield are looking for more this season—certainly aiming for a berth in the 16-team State 1A Division 2 tournament Oct. 31-Nov. 1 in Burley. Their serving and hitting have improved dramatically. They've nearly quadrupled their wins this fall.

And the Mushers (11-5, 8-3 league) showed their progress Tuesday during a Sawtooth Conference match against The Community School Cutthroats in the Fish Tank at Sun Valley.

Sparked by the hitting of long and lanky newcomer Katelyn Peterson (12 kills, 6 winning serves) and the serving of Hailey Gregory (24 serves, 3 aces), the Mushers polished off the very young Cutthroats 25-3, 25-15, 25-17.

Other strong hitters for Camas were Tessa Rumsey and Erica Phantharasen. Piling up service points were Sunnie Vouch (9 winners, 4 aces) and Danielle Knowlton (8 winners). Rounding out the squad were Cheylynn Hansen, Mollie McLam, Tonianne Wear, Mette Ericsson and Megan Stampke.

After getting nearly skunked in the first game, coach Reamy Goodwin's Cutthroats settled down and played a little better in their serve-receive game. Their made six straight points at the end of the second game and made huge improvements in defense and hitting to battle to a 14-14 tie late in the third.

Sophomore middle hitter Natalie Goddard (6 winning serves) put down three kills in the second game and got plenty of help from 5-4 sophomore setter Julie Doan (4 kills, 3 serves). Freshman Meridith Pintler (3 serves) also gave the Fish a boost from the stripe.

Digging the ball well for the home team were Morgan Pintler and Maggie Flood, while Sophia Carkonen blocked for a point. Rounding out the squad for coaches Goodwin and Kristyn Rutland were Emily Gillespie and Barrett Brown.

The Mushers, having swept the Cutthroats, Murtaugh and Magic Valley Christian to go with splits of home-and-home league series with Carey and Dietrich, took a head of steam into their match at Richfield (11-4, 9-1 league) Thursday.

Richfield, the two-time defending league champion, had its 29-match league winning streak snapped by Dietrich Sept. 11, but the Tigers gained revenge Tuesday night with a 25-22, 25-21, 30-28 Sawtooth road sweep over Dietrich.

Goodwin's Cutthroats (0-11, 0-10) traveled to Dietrich (9-4, 8-2) Thursday and will host Twin Falls Christian Academy in a junior varsity match today, Friday at 4:30 p.m. at The Fish Tank. Carey arrives in Sun Valley for the season finale Tuesday, Oct. 14 at 6 p.m.

The seven-team Sawtooth Conference tournament opens Saturday, Oct. 18 at Murtaugh. At stake will be three berths in the State 1A Division 2 meet.




 Local Weather 
Search archives:


Copyright © 2024 Express Publishing Inc.   Terms of Use   Privacy Policy
All Rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission of Express Publishing Inc. is prohibited. 

The Idaho Mountain Express is distributed free to residents and guests throughout the Sun Valley, Idaho resort area community. Subscribers to the Idaho Mountain Express will read these stories and others in this week's issue.