BEAR RIVER HIGH - By Tate Atkin, Headliner Sports Editor, August 31, 2022
Although the Bear River High girls' volleyball season has just begun, the team has faced adversity early on and hopes to use it as a learning experience as they grow together as a team and build throughout the rest of the season. They hope to rely on the experience of key returners to this year's team in seniors Mady Bird and Kate Dahle as well as juniors Saydee Adams and Carlie Christenson.
Injuries have made a quick impact on the young season and has forced the team to make adjustments to their lineups and rotations. According to head coach Janalyn Brown, junior Avery Cazzell was very impressive throughout tryouts but will not be able to play as she recovers from a torn ACL. Senior Megan Crandall has also been sidelined with a sprained ankle, but the injury doesn't seem to be serious and looks to return to action before their next match.
Adding insult to injuries, the team has struggled to find themselves in the win column through the first two matches this year. After the annual Red and White scrimmage held on August 9, the Bears opened the season at Weber High School against the Warriors from 6A on August 11. The Bears were led offensively by Dahle who led the team with nine kills and juniors Lexie Reese and Christenson who each had two aces while serving. It wasn't enough for the Bears as they lost to Weber 25-13, 25-16, 25-23.
"Weber is a solid blocking team. We ultimately lost in three, but we put up a good fight," Brown said on the loss to the Warriors,
Bear River then hosted cross-county rival Box Elder High on August 16. As always when these two teams meet it was a contested battle, but the Bears came up short, falling to the Bees, 25-18, 25-22, 25-15. Defensively, the Bears were led by Bird who led the team with seven digs and Dahle who had six. They both had great games offensively as Bird recorded four aces while serving and Dahle added three along with four kills. Adams contributed three aces and three kills.
"As a team we had eight kills and 14 aces. We had some long rallies but had way too many unforced errors," Brown said about the loss to Box Elder.
Watch the match between Bear River and Box Elder thanks to Bear River Live using the following link:
After a nearly two-week break, the Bears were back in action starting with a road game against Bonneville High on August 30. Bear River lost to Bonneville in four sets, 27-25, 25-20, 25-19, 25-16. Dahle had eight kills and Adams with six of her own and Bird had 16 digs.
Next up for the Bear River High volleyball team is a non-region home game against West Side (Dayton, Idaho) on Wednesday, August 31, at 7 p.m.