Spanish Springs has moved on.
In the first game since their undefeated start to 4A North play was halted with a three-set loss at Manogue, the Cougars cruised at home on Tuesday night.
Spanish Springs (20-4, 7-1) swept aside McQueen (11-10, 4-3) in straight sets 25-7, 25-16, 25-18 to move two games clear of both the Lancers and Reno for first place in the High Desert League.
“We took Thursday and Friday off. We practiced Saturday, had a great practice, and just moved past it,” Spanish Springs coach Frank Sandomenico said. “The best thing was those two days off.”
Senior Ireland Bennett said the team decided in the first practice back over the weekend it was not going to let the Manogue outcome linger.
“We were like ‘okay, let’s just practice really hard, forget about Manogue, forget about Wednesday. We have a game on Tuesday. Let’s get ready for that,’” she said.
Bennett moved the middle in the win after playing outside since her sophomore season. It wasn’t completely new, however. She played middle through her freshmen year.
“We just felt like we needed to mix things up a little bit,” Sandomenico said of the decision to move Bennett. “We just wanted to try something different and it worked out really well tonight.”
In her first game back at her former position, Bennett put down eight kills to go along with three blocks.
“It took a little to get used to at first,” Bennett said. “But then once I got it going, I was like ‘okay, I’m getting back in the swing of things.’ It’s definitely a lot faster. You have to move a lot quicker on the net.”
A pair of freshmen, Rylee Spinks and Alyssa Zuro, moved into the starting rotation on the senior-laden squad with Bennett moving the middle.
Jordyn Boswell and Emily Moore led the way with 10 kills apiece. Moore also served five aces and got up four digs. Kennedey Stroshine led the team in digs, with 13.
Mackenzie O’Connell was once again all over the stat sheet with 28 assists, three digs and two kills to go along with two aces.
The first set established the tone with a surprisingly lopsided 25-7 score.
“That is as good as we can play. And that’s as bad as I’ve seen them play. It just wasn’t their night,” Sandomenico said. “But they are a legit team.”
With the victory, the Cougars moved to 5-0 at home. They have swept all five matches they’ve played (against Wooster, Douglas, Damonte Ranch, Galena and now McQueen).
“We have a great student section, a great crowd,” Bennett said. “That’s always really helpful.”
Spanish Springs will play in front of the home crowd again on Wednesday night against North Valleys (2-10, 1-6).
Raiders sweep Panthers
Reed picked up its second 4A North win of the season on Tuesday night at home against North Valleys.
The Raiders (4-10, 2-5) swept the Panthers (2-10, 1-6) in straight sets 25-20, 25-10, 25-13.
It is early, but the win moved Reed into fourth place in the High Desert League. The top four teams advance to the postseason.
Now winners in two of their last three, the Raiders to go Reno (9-4, 4-3) on Thursday.
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