Badger volleyball honors those affected by cancer
Think Pink
Bonners Ferry hosted their annual Dig Pink event on Tuesday, Oct. 2 and honored those stricken by cancer, especially those affected by breast cancer.
In a heartfelt gesture, the players from all three Bonners Ferry teams chose people close to them touched by the disease to whom they dedicated the match.
To show further support both teams were adorned in pink along with the fans of Bonners Ferry and Timberlake. There was game still a game to be played, though, and Badgers were unable to channel the positive energy into a win.
The Badgers struggled early in the first set and by the time they got the gs straightened out it was too late. The girls appeared a little timid and disorganized while the Tigers hit the ball all over the court.
Too many unforced errors on the Badger side of the net helped Timberlake ratchet up a 14-0 run.
When the Badgers finally scored they were in a 3-16 hole. Bonners would make it respectable with a couple of kills from MacKenzie McDonald, Camille Awbrey, and Ally Merrifield along with a strong block from Jasmine Hill and Kendra Merritt.
The Badgers’ trouble getting the ball over the net resulted in a 13-25 loss.
The home team came out with some fire in an attempt to avenge the first set and got behind some solid kills from Savannah Woods and Merrifield to go up 8-5 before Timberlake took a time out.
The Badgers scored first out of the break but a kill and two aces from Tigers’ Jenna Hoffman kick started a 10-0 run to set the Badgers back on the scoreboard 9-15.
Bonners Ferry woke back up, though, and went on a little run of their own to get back in the game at 15-16, but before the Badgers knew it they were in another
See PINK, B-5
hole at 15-21. That’s when Awbrey fired up her team with a big kill and a clutch block then Merrifield served seven straight to tie the score up.
The pink-clad Badger faithful were on their feet but it was not to be. Timberlake took the next two and the set.
Fighting for their lives the Badgers kept it close with conservative yet smart play mingled with the appropriate amount of hustle. But Jessica Norlander, Timberlake’s middle blocker, hit her stride and rarely let a shot by. Slowly the Tigers pulled away and with a 25-17 third set win took the 3-0 victory from the Badgers.
BFHS coach Janis Tucker Tucker cited sporadic play for the Badger loss on Tuesday.
“We need to focus through the whole game,” she said.
The Badgers will have to do a lot of focusing on Saturday when they head to Coeur d’Alene for big tournament with teams from Idaho, Washington, and Montana.
Game notes: Boners Ferry: Kendra Merritt – 3 kills, Savannah Woods – 8 assists, Jailee Foster – 8 digs Timberlake: Jenna Hoffman – 7 kills, Sydnie Malloy – 16 assists, Jessica Norlander – 4 blocks
The C-Team played in memory of Evelyn Stueve.
JV: Abby Davis and Jaiden Everhart played in honor of Judy Johnson, Malorie Stippich played in honor of her aunt, Shelleye Johnson; Aaliya Zarate played in honor of her mom, Janie Zarate; Katie Colson honored her grandpa, Bill Colson; Chloe Copley honored her grandma Studer and grandpa Poulton, Zoe Zielinski played in honor of her aunt Shannon and grandpa Riekena, and Jessica Watts played in honor of grandpa Woody.
Varsity: Jasmine Hill played in honor of Pam Skeen; MacKenzie Mendenhall honored her grandma, Sue Hubbell, Kendra Merritt played in honor of grandma Julie and Bobby; MaKenzie Carle played in honor of her grandma Kellogg; Jailee played in honor of her grandma Julie, Desirae Minor played to honor Mrs. Niewieroski; Ally Merrifield played in honor of Randy Day and Elden Merrifield.
Coach Tucker dedicated the game to her mom Joy; her sisters, Jane and Sue and mother-in-law, Nancy.
Coach Watson dedicated the game to her mother Jitka Skalel, while BFHS Principal Kirk Hoff honored his mother Marilynn Hoff.