Lady Lions outlast Lady Hawks

The Eureka Lady Lions are walking on the fighting side of the Lady Hawks, and the two District 7B volleyball titans are sure to be mixing it up again sooner rather than later.

Coach Sandra Kazmierczak's Lady Hawks and the Lady Lions, widely regarded as the top two net teams in 7B, went toe-to-toe in an epic five-set battle in Eureka Saturday.

The Lions may have come out on top 25-16, 18-25, 25-22, 13-25, 15-9 this time, but more skirmishes between these 7B contenders are definitely in the offing. And the Lady Hawks are more than ready for the Oct. 12 return date with the Lady Lions.

"We are excited, that was a great match in Eureka," Kazmierczak said. "We are playing well and looking forward to seeing them again in a few weeks."

Encouraging to the Hawks was the fact that even without one of their best players – Belle Cooper was on an excused absence Saturday – they were still almost able to knock off the Lady Lions on their home floor.

Key to the Lady Hawk effort in Eureka, junior Jody Detlaff was "on the net all day," according to Kazmierczak, blasting away for 18 kills while also throwing up seven stuff blocks.

Riley Wilson and Elli Pardee directed the Lady Hawk net attack with 26 and 14 kills each, respectively, Scarlette Schwindt was her usual all-around self, hitting 15 digs, 15 kills and slamming three service aces, Wilson chipped in with seven digs, Brooke Bowlin 10 kills and Pardee three blocks.

Maggie Graves (15 kills and 23 digs), Avery Escobar (29 set assists) and Reena Truman and Rhianna Hawkins (12 kills each) paced Eureka.

In other action last week, the Lady Hawks spiked the Plains Trotters Sept. 17 in Thompson Falls 25-12, 25-20, 25-21. Pinpoint serving by the Hawks seemed to be the difference in that match.

"We served really well against Plains, and we are a pretty good team when we can do that," Kazmierczak said. "We had 22 aces in the match, I was really happy with how controlled we were in serving the ball."

Schwindt ripped seven of those service aces against Plains and Cooper added five more. Cooper also hit three blocks and five digs, Wilson directed the Hawk attack with 18 assists, and Schwindt hit a team-high seven kills.

Please see other story for Plains' statistics from the match.

The Lady Hawks have two home matches this week, hosting District 7B foe Mission Thursday and entertaining Arlee in a non-conference match Saturday.