Outlaws beat Bend teams on the hardwood

Sisters volleyball squad posted wins over Bend High and Summit last week and continue to improve with every match. The Lady Outlaws defeated the Lava Bears in Bend on Tuesday, September 8, with scores of 25-16, 27-29, 25-18, and 25-12. Two days later, the Outlaws posted a win over the Storm in a match that went five sets with scores of 21-25, 20-25, 25-20, 25-19 and 15-8.

Sisters played in a tough environment at Bend on Tuesday. The Lava Bears had a huge home crowd in attendance. They were loud and boisterous in cheering on their team. Despite the distraction, the Outlaws played a very good match.

The Outlaws did go down in the second set when the Lava Bears were able to break up the Outlaws' tempo. The Outlaws fought through the second-set loss and came back and really set the tempo for the next two sets.

Coach Jason Myhre said, "Our serving was strong, and we were transitioning better and better as the night went on. We needed those second sets to show how much resilience we have, and to show us how we can respond to a team that takes us out of our game. We responded well."

Allie Spear had a great all-around match, with 16 kills, 16 digs, and was 16/18 from the service line with one ace. Jessie Brigham also had a great performance with 26 digs, and she nailed 27 of her 30 attempts from the service line, including six aces.

Ashlynn Cantwell had nine kills in the match and was 9/10 from the line. Hawley Harrer contributed nine kills and dished out 19 assists. Alex Hartford also contributed at the setter position with 17 assists.

Two days later, the Outlaws came out on top in a grueling five-set match at home against the Storm.

Sisters had a rough start and was playing flat and too carefully. Summit forced the Outlaws to commit many errors. In the first two sets alone, Sisters had 27 errors. Sisters was taken out of their game, started to play conservatively, and worked not to lose, rather than playing to win.

Myhre said, "We had to make a gut-check after the first two sets, and decide whether or not we were going to play Summit volleyball or Outlaws volleyball. Thank goodness they decided to play our game, and that was the turning point."

The Outlaws bounced back and took the next three sets for the win. In the third set, Harrer got in her groove and it was hard for the Storm to stop her. Setter Alex Hartford and Harrer connected and took control of the court.

Spear and Cantwell followed with a solid performance, and played a smart and powerful outside hitting game. Jessie Brigham got back in sync in the final three sets, and with amazing digs, demonstrated why she is one of the best liberos in the state.

"The girls' great play contributed to the momentum shift, but when Hawley (Harrer) and Peytan (Zanck) started to get their connection going in the middle, I knew that they were all back on board with their game-plan, and we were going to make this a game."

Emma Houck and Cassidy Ling-Scott came off the bench and put away a couple of set-ending kills, which proved to be the icing on the cake.

"I couldn't be more proud of these girls and the efforts that all of them and our coaches have put it," said Myhre. "It takes a lot of character to be down two sets to a tough team, and fight back to take the next three for the win."

The Outlaws were to play at Sutherlin on Tuesday, September 15. On Thursday, September 17, Sisters will play at home against Sweet Home, and two days later will host the Sisters Invitational Volleyball Tournament.