Volleyball sweeps La Grande, Madras

The Lady Outlaws came out strong in their first showing of the year, and swept their matches against Madras and La Grande at home in Sisters on Thursday, September 3.

Sisters served tough against Madras and piled up 23 services aces in the match, which helped big in the 25-8, 25-11, and 25-10 win. The girls were challenged to hit specific spots on the court, and they rose to the challenge and nailed them.

The Outlaws didn't get many opportunities to run their offense, but did get in a lot of serving practice.

Alex Hartford finished with 13 assists and Hawley Harrer had nine. Jessie Brigham had five aces on the night, and Allie Spear, Ashlynn Cantwell, and Peytan Zanck each had four. Harrer led the team with nine kills, and Zanck added six. Brigham led the defense with seven digs.

Coach Jason Myhre said, "The girls have been running fast this year so far on offense, so they were challenged with how to keep momentum in a game that might be moving slower than they would like. They stayed with it, and made some great choices to keep focus and keep momentum."

In the match against Laâ¯Grande, Sisters prevailed with scores of 25-7, 25-17, and 25-6. The Outlaws worked on their serving and tallied another 11 aces in the match. The girls were able to run their offense, which resulted in 39 kills on the night.

"Our middles are being used a lot this season, and it is showing with the impact they are making at the net blocking and hitting," said Myhre.

Brooke Knirk and Peytan Zanck combined for 18 of the 39 team kills. Defensive players Allie Spear and Jessie Brigham played a great match, and picked up everything that was hit at them.

Hartford dished out 19 assists and Harrer had 12. Zanck led the squad with 10 kills, Harrer recorded nine, and Knirk added eight. Hartford and Spear both had five aces on the night.

Myhre said, "All in all, the evening really showed some great signs for the upcoming season. The girls are playing an up-tempo offense this year that really mixes up the set distribution. This couldn't happen if we didn't have such an accomplished pair of setters in Alex Hartford and Hawley Harrer. They are just setting at another level and it shows, and with the set distribution, it has also freed up our outside hitters, Allie Spear and Ashlynn Cantwell, to be hitting against single blocks."

Myhre added that the up-tempo offense forces everyone on the court to be engaged in the game, and to be thinking strategically about every move they make. He noted that the girls are really becoming students of the game, and realize they don't have to always hit hard, but hit smart.

"I am very proud of these girls and what they have accomplished this early in the season," said Myhre. "They are getting faster and faster every game."

The Lady Outlaws were to play at Bend High on Tuesday, September 8. They will face Summit at home two days later.