Badger girls drop two in league

September 15, 2012

The Badger varsity volleyball team was competitive against the Timberlake Tigers Tuesday, but couldn't close, and the loss of starting setter Emma Kelly to a hand injury during warm-up Thursday threw the team in turmoil as they fell dismally to the Priest River Spartans.

The setbacks put the Lady Badgers at 2-4 in regular season play, 1-2 in league.

Despite often being ahead and always staying close, Timberlake surged at the end in all three sets Tuesday, winning 25-18, 26-24 and 25-21.

"We play well at times and often get ahead or beat another team o 20, but we haven't quite learned how to finish it," said Badger coach Janis Tucker. "We let up and let them back in."

Allyson Merrifield had four kills and 16 digs against the Tigers, Savannah Woods had five assists; Camille Awbrey came through with four blocks; McKenzie MacDonald had 16 digs and Emma Kelly served up five aces.

The Badgers hosted the Pries River Spartans Thursday, and according to coach Tucker, it was one of hose games where nothing went well.

After making major adjustments following Kelly's hand injury, nothing clicked, and the Spartans ran away with all three sets; 25-17, 25-8, 25-13.

The Badgers are busy today, hosting eight varsity teams and six JV teams in the Bonners Ferry Tournament. Pool play started at 9 a.m. with varsity competing at the high school and JV play taking place at the middle school. Pool play will seed the teams in both tourneys into a single elimination tournament, which will begin in late afternoon.

Regular play resumes Tuesday, when the Badgers travel to face Sandpoint JV; league play continues Thursday, when the eam travels to Kellogg.