There's nothing sweeter than getting on a roll in a high school volleyball match, which is what The Community School did Tuesday in its 25-15, 25-8, 25-15 Northside Conference home win over the Murtaugh Red Devils at the Fish Tank.
Winning all three games in a best three-of-five league match is something the current crop of Cutthroats hasn't experienced in two seasons. That made it all the more exciting for coach Reamy Goodwin's Cutthroats (3-5, 2-5 league).
"It was a good match," said Goodwin, whose girls won their first home match since 2007. "We're serving better and we were aggressive with our offense. What has happened this year as the kids have gotten better is they feel like they're more competitive and so they can ramp it up a little."
Ramping it up big time at the serving stripe was 6-1 sophomore middle hitter Sophia Carkonen. She served 12 consecutive points in the 25-8 second-game victory and added five more in the third.
Also playing well, Goodwin said, are the Cutthroat outside hitters, 5-7 senior Morgan Pintler and 5-6 senior Maggie Flood. Junior setter Julie Doan has continued her progress, as has sophomore setter Meredith Pintler, according to Goodwin.
Wednesday afternoon, the Cutthroats dropped a Northside match at Richfield—giving the Tigers a two-match sweep over Sun Valley this fall. "Richfield has great athletes. It's always hard to get the ball on the floor against them," he said.
Next up: The Cutthroats visit league-leading Camas County (11-1, 9-0 league) on Tuesday and host Carey on Thursday, Oct. 8.
Carey, WRHS spikers win
Coach Kathy Whitworth's Carey Panthers completed a back-to-back Northside road sweep of Richfield (5-7, 5-3 league) and Magic Valley Christian on Tuesday with a 25-17, 25-13, 25-17 victory over the MVC Conquerors in Jerome.
The Richfield victory was a big one for Carey, since Richfield and Carey will probably be battling it out for the third and fourth seeds in the Northside league tournament starting Oct. 20 in Dietrich. And, once again in 2009, there are three state berths on the line in the seven-team Northside loop.
Carey (7-5, 4-4 league) hosted Magic Valley Christian Thursday night and goes to Hazelton for a triangular with Valley and Wendell on Monday.
Meanwhile, coach Tim Richards' Wood River Wolverines made it two consecutive Great Basin Conference triumphs with a 25-5, 25-14, 25-19 home success over the Canyon Ridge Riverhawks on Tuesday.
It was quick, 54-minute breeze for the Wolverines (12-12, 3-3 league). Particularly effective at the serving stripe for Wood River was junior Ali Levy, who made 12 consecutive serves in the 25-5 first-game win and finished with 19 in all.
Wood River travels to the 24-team Borah Invitational tournament today, Friday and Saturday, Oct. 2-3. The Wolverines are in a four-team pool with Borah, Boise and Caldwell.
Next Tuesday, Burley (1-6 league) visits Hailey for another Great Basin match. League-leading Twin Falls (6-0 league) beat Burley in three games Wednesday night.
Wolverine stats from the Canyon Ridge match:
Kills: Grace Lagodich 11, Jade Glenn 8, Jessica Hamilton 8, Ali Levy 6, Monica Garceau 3. Blocks: Glenn 2. Serves: Levy 19, Hamilton 11 (2 aces), Garceau 8 (1 ace), Lagodich 4 (1 ace). Canyon Ridge leaders: Brooke Johnson 7 kills, 2 blocks, 4 serves; Kelly Ann Buddecke 2 kills, 2 blocks, 5 serves; Kelsey McKee 5 kills.
Community School sophomore Sophia Carkonen goes high at the net during Tuesday’s Northside Conference home victory over Murtaugh. Photo by David N. Seelig
