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Bulldogs open FWL season with sweep
By John Gunther, Sports Editor
Friday, September 19, 2008 | No comments posted.
NORTH BEND — Haley Dunham started the match with nine straight service points, had a 10-point service run to give North Bend control of the second game, and ended the match with a kill.
It was a pretty good night for the North Bend sophomore, and her Bulldog teammates.
North Bend beat visiting South Umpqua 25-7, 25-19, 25-15 in the Far West League opener, avenging both the loss that ended their season in the league playoffs last fall and the loss that ended their 54-match league winning streak earlier in the 2007 season.
Dunham said winning the league opener by such a convincing margin was fun.
“It’s really exciting,” she said. “The first game was awesome.”
Jodi Smartt had three kills and Alexandra Mateski added two in Dunham’s nine-point service run to start the game. The Bulldogs eventually led 17-2 and finished the game on a kill by Dunham.
“I’m hoping we can bottle the first game up,” North Bend coach Les Willett said, adding that’s the way he’d like to see his team play all the time.
The second game didn’t start nearly as well, and the Bulldogs didn’t lead until Dunham had an ace for a 10-9 advantage. She had two more aces and Smartt added two kills as the Bulldogs scored the next nine points to take control.
The Lancers cut the lead from 19-9 to 21-17 before North Bend closed the game with two kills by Blair Davis, another by Mateski, and an assortment of errors by the Lancers.
North Bend took control of the final game early. Smartt had two straight aces and Mateski had four kills as the Bulldogs went up 11-3.
The match ended on a textbook play. South Umpqua’s Kenzie Church served the ball to North Bend libero Ashley Horlacher, who passed it to setter Katie Banta, leading to a perfect set for Dunham’s match-ending kill.
Banta had a big night with 30 assists, four digs and two kills. The offense was spread out, with Mateski recording 12 kills, along with nine digs; Dunham contributing 10 kills, four aces and seven digs; Smartt finishing with six kills, four digs and three aces; and Davis knocking down five kills.
“I think it was a good way to start off league,” said Davis.
She said the team has had outstanding communication early in the season and played strong defense Thursday.
South Umpqua never got up much of an offensive attack. Jenny Stevenson had five kills. Setter Taylor Whitmore added three kills, five assists and eight digs.
“I think we did some good things,” South Umpqua coach Sarah Gray said. “We have a lot of work to do.”
The Lancers graduated nearly all their key players from last year’s playoff team. Whitmore is the only returning starter.
“I’m glad we caught them early (in the season),” Willett said. “They’re a young team.”
North Bend had a young team last year, but now has a veteran club that impressed Gray.
“North Bend was excellent,” she said.
Willett was pleased to start with a win, but noted it is just one match, and there’s a long way to go in the league season. On Tuesday, the Bulldogs visit Sutherlin, who upset defending champion Douglas on Thursday.
“It’s our goal just to win enough to make the playoffs,” he said.
Thursday’s match was a good start.
It was a pretty good night for the North Bend sophomore, and her Bulldog teammates.
North Bend beat visiting South Umpqua 25-7, 25-19, 25-15 in the Far West League opener, avenging both the loss that ended their season in the league playoffs last fall and the loss that ended their 54-match league winning streak earlier in the 2007 season.
Dunham said winning the league opener by such a convincing margin was fun.
“It’s really exciting,” she said. “The first game was awesome.”
Jodi Smartt had three kills and Alexandra Mateski added two in Dunham’s nine-point service run to start the game. The Bulldogs eventually led 17-2 and finished the game on a kill by Dunham.
“I’m hoping we can bottle the first game up,” North Bend coach Les Willett said, adding that’s the way he’d like to see his team play all the time.
The second game didn’t start nearly as well, and the Bulldogs didn’t lead until Dunham had an ace for a 10-9 advantage. She had two more aces and Smartt added two kills as the Bulldogs scored the next nine points to take control.
The Lancers cut the lead from 19-9 to 21-17 before North Bend closed the game with two kills by Blair Davis, another by Mateski, and an assortment of errors by the Lancers.
North Bend took control of the final game early. Smartt had two straight aces and Mateski had four kills as the Bulldogs went up 11-3.
The match ended on a textbook play. South Umpqua’s Kenzie Church served the ball to North Bend libero Ashley Horlacher, who passed it to setter Katie Banta, leading to a perfect set for Dunham’s match-ending kill.
Banta had a big night with 30 assists, four digs and two kills. The offense was spread out, with Mateski recording 12 kills, along with nine digs; Dunham contributing 10 kills, four aces and seven digs; Smartt finishing with six kills, four digs and three aces; and Davis knocking down five kills.
“I think it was a good way to start off league,” said Davis.
She said the team has had outstanding communication early in the season and played strong defense Thursday.
South Umpqua never got up much of an offensive attack. Jenny Stevenson had five kills. Setter Taylor Whitmore added three kills, five assists and eight digs.
“I think we did some good things,” South Umpqua coach Sarah Gray said. “We have a lot of work to do.”
The Lancers graduated nearly all their key players from last year’s playoff team. Whitmore is the only returning starter.
“I’m glad we caught them early (in the season),” Willett said. “They’re a young team.”
North Bend had a young team last year, but now has a veteran club that impressed Gray.
“North Bend was excellent,” she said.
Willett was pleased to start with a win, but noted it is just one match, and there’s a long way to go in the league season. On Tuesday, the Bulldogs visit Sutherlin, who upset defending champion Douglas on Thursday.
“It’s our goal just to win enough to make the playoffs,” he said.
Thursday’s match was a good start.
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