Home Sports Local Sports Baker improves to 3-1 in GOL

Baker improves to 3-1 in GOL

Written by MIKE FERGUSON, Baker City Herald October 08, 2008 05:44 am

Bulldogs play host to rival La Grande Thursday in a key league match

Baker High School’s volleyball team is hitting its midseason stride during the heart of its Greater Oregon League schedule.

The Bulldogs shook off a slow start on the road to defeat Ontario Tuesday, 22-25, 25-15, 25-16, 25-13. Baker is now 3-1 in the GOL going into a home match Thursday against La Grande.

Last weekend the Bulldogs turned back Mac-Hi in three straight games, 25-13, 25-15, 25-22.

Baker took its time to get things going against Ontario, coach Marcy Hayes said.

“I think it took us a while to get off the bus and play,” she said. “The whole first game we were down and had to come from behind.”

The Bulldogs tied the score at 22-22 only to have the Tigers close out the first game with three straight points.

After that, “we finally woke up and started playing our game,” Hayes said. “I was very proud of the girls tonight because they never gave up. No matter what the score was they played through all the tough situations.”

Baker was particularly effective around the net, Hayes noted. The Bulldogs blocked 7 points and had 3 solo blocks and on the night tallied 36 kills on the part of their front-line players.

Tara Talbott was 16-of-20 hitting with 7 kills and 13 digs. Andrea Wilson finished 32-of-33 serving with 3 aces. She was also 25-of-28 hitting with 11 kills.

Kylie Kitzmiller was 28-for-31 serving with 2 aces. Whitney Phillips blocked 4 points and had 2 solo blocks. Savannah Daly was 48-for-55 setting and contributed 12 assists.

The Mac-Hi match may have ended in straight sets, but the Bulldogs “had a hard time getting motivated” last weekend, Hayes said.

“They seemed to be in slow motion all day,” she said. “I think we did enough to get by. We didn’t play our game of volleyball, but we did get the win and that’s what we need right now.”

Annie Martin was 7-7 hitting with 3 kills against Mac-Mi. Aly Ogan was 4-of-4 hitting with 4 kills. Phillips was 32-of-34 setting with 15 assists. Kitzmiller finished a perfect 11-of-11 hitting and had 4 kills.

Baker’s home match against La Grande Thursday opens with the freshmen playing at 4 p.m. The junior varsity and varsity matches will follow.