Bruin girls varsity volleyball was home after being on the road for last two contests, hosting a strong 3-1 Cascade Christian Lady Challenger team Thursday evening.
In the first set the Bruin girls used hustle to keep pace with Lady Challengers with both teams tied at 5-5 early.Cascade Christian stretched the gap to 7-17, taking control of the first set on their way to a 13-25 win.
A determined Bruin girls team came out in the second set, again with both teams tied at 7-7 early in the set, but this time it was the Bruin girls who extended a 5 point lead. The Bruin girls kept the Lady Challengers off balance through out the set building a 19-13 lead late. But Cascade Christian desperately rallied back, closing in on the Bruin girls lead and making it 23-20 late. But the Bruin girls wouldn’t be denied, taking the 25-23 second set win.
A befuddled Lady Challenger team took the floor in the third set determined to stop the Bruin girls momentum, but, both teams again stayed close with both teams tied at 8-8 before Cascade Christian took a 3 point lead. As the set continued the Lady Challengers slowly extended a comfortable 9 point lead before closing out the set with a 15-25 win.
In the fourth set, the Lady Challengers took control early in the set, extending an early lead early on their way to a 10-25 fourth set and 1-3 match win.
:Although we lost, I was really proud of the team tonight.” head coach Vanessa Nidiffer said after the match. “I can’t remember us ever taking a set from Cascade in the past. Cascade is a very tough team that plays at a high level and our team rose up and competed with them for three sets. That was the best game I’ve seen Sahara play. She made a big difference.”
The Bruin girls will be on the road next week, traveling to Medford to challenge the now 4-1 St. Mary’s Crusader team Tuesday evening at 6:00pm.
