Blackhawk volleyball team drops two matches to top-three league opponents

By JOHN McCALLUM

Editor

Cheney High's volleyball team hit a rocky point in its schedule last week, losing a pair of matches to the Great Northern League's second and third place schools in straight games.

The Blackhawks fell at home last Tuesday to No. 3 Colville, 25-13, 25-12 and 25-22, and ended the week with a 25-17, 25-20, 25-12 loss at No. 2 West Valley.

Cheney head coach Cassie Hare was unavailable for comment Monday evening, out with a bout of the flu, but assistant coach Sarah Rusch said they both felt the Hawks didn't play quite to par against the Indians. Colville (7-3, 7-4) has improved a lot since the last time the two teams met on Sept. 17 and is hitting its stride late in the season; something Rusch said surprised Cheney's players.

“It seems to me that what Colville is doing is what Cheney did last year,” she said, referencing the Hawks strong finish last year after a slow start.

Shaley Ham and Millie Holy each had four kills for Cheney, with Sayde Davis getting 15 assists, Ham and Davis each an ace, Holy, Ashley Rohner and Alyssa Bray with five digs apiece, and Ham, Marina Houff and Baylie Puyear one block each.

Rusch said Cheney had a much better showing Thursday at West Valley, despite the score. The Hawks were with the Eagles (8-2, 8-2) in all three games, and had a lead for much of game two before fading near the end, a result mainly of a good West Valley team that ramped up their energy and focus.

Ham led Cheney with five kills, Davis had 15 assists, Janae Olson a pair of aces, Holy eight digs and Puyear and Ham each with two blocks. Rusch said Ham, Olson and Davis all had a good match, with Ham and Olson hitting well and Davis contributing with solid passing.

The losses drop Cheney's league and overall record to 3-7, currently sixth place in the GNL standings with four games remaining. The Hawks played host to Medical Lake (1-9, 1-10) on Tuesday, and travel to Clarkston (5-5, 5-5) to take on the Bantams Thursday.

Cheney wraps up its regular season next with a pair of home matches Tuesday against Deer Park (1-9, 1-13) and Thursday against league-leading Pullman (10-0, 16-1). The Hawks hope to finish strong and move up the standings as the postseason approaches.

John McCallum can be reached at jmac@cheneyfreepress.com.