Volleyball team finally hits the court

After more than a year, the Lady Outlaws finally got back on the court. They travelled to Cascade on Thursday, March 4, and defeated the Cougars 25-18, 25-15, 23-25, and 25-15.

Sisters had to work out some nerves and jitters in the first match, but looked to their veteran leaders who brought consistency and calmness to the court. The Outlaws were led by Greta Davis, who finished the night with 23 kills and two blocks.

Sophie Silva recorded nine kills and five blocks, and Natalie Sitz added five kills and three aces. Setter Ellie Rush finished with 40 assists.

Coach Rory Rush said, “It was a good first win for us and gave us a chance to get everyone in and work to find our chemistry on the floor.”

A day later, Sisters travelled to 6A Bend High for some fierce competition. The Outlaws fell with scores of 18-25, 14-25, and 22-25.

The game started strong with teams scoring points back and forth. The Outlaws took a small lead, but then the Lava Bears went on a six-point scoring run to swing the momentum in their favor and pull ahead for the win.

In the second set, the Lady Outlaws struggled with their passes and their offense and just couldn’t find their rhythm. In the final set, Sisters came out with energy and played strong against the Lava Bears. The game went back and forth with some good, long rallies, but the Outlaws just couldn’t hang on for the win.

Davis had a strong hitting night from the outside, and led the team with 17 kills and four blocks. Sophie Silva was an offensive threat in the middle and finished with 11 kills and four blocks. Rush recorded 33 assists and five aces.

Freshman Grace Vohs recorded six kills and four blocks at crucial moments in the game. Rush told The Nugget that the coaches are excited to see her progress throughout the season.

Rush said, “We saw some really strong play from everyone tonight. This game was about good competition and us getting better. We will regroup and continue to grow as a team.”

Sisters was to play at home against Mt. View on Monday, March 8. They were to travel to Philomath on Wednesday, March 10, but Philomath is still in the “extreme risk” category for COVID-19 and won’t be able to play. Instead, the Outlaws will head to Crook County for a match against the Cowgirls. On Saturday, Sisters has two games; one against Ridgeview and one against Hood River, both played at Ridgeview in Redmond.