BEAR RIVER HIGH - By Tate Atkin, Headliner Sports Editor, September 17, 2022
As the Bear River High volleyball team is now halfway through the month of September, the Lady Bears are also the at halfway point of their regular season, with eight matches played and eight more to go before the post-season begins. It has not been the start the Bears were hoping for as they are currently 0-2 in region and 1-7 overall.
Bear River won their first match of the season on September 6, when they traveled to Ogden to take on the Ben Lomond High Scots. The Bears were impressive in their dominating performance as they beat the Scots in three sets, 25-11, 25-9, 25-9. Senior Kate "The Great" Dahle had a fantastic match as she compiled 11 kills, 5 aces, 4 digs and a block.
Junior Carlie Christenson was another standout player for the Bears as she contributed 6 kills, 2 aces, 2 blocks and 1 dig. Senior Mady Bird led the team with 12 digs while junior Jozelan McDougal led the team with 7 assists. It was an all-around team win as the Bears fought for the first win of the season.
Although they have stayed competitive, the Bear River High volleyball team has struggled to earn another victory on the court during their first half of the season losing the previous four matches.
Bear River faced two Idaho opponents back-to-back on September 8, with matches versus Ririe High and West Side High. The first match against Ririe High was close in all three sets but the Lady Bears fell the Bulldogs, 25-19, 25-21, 25-20. Dahle again filled the stat sheet as she racked up 11 kills, 6 aces, 1 block and 9 digs. Junior Saydee Adams added 8 kills, 2 aces and 9 digs. McDougal helped out with 11 assists and 4 digs and sophomore Paisley Barfuss contributed with 10 assists and 3 digs.
After their disappointing loss, the Lady Bears turned around and took on a very tough squad from West Side High. West Side defeated Bear River in three sets, 25-14, 25-19, 25-16. Adams had a fantastic match as she led Bear River with 23 receptions while adding 8 digs, 6 kills and an ace. Dahle had 8 digs and 6 kills as well.
The Bears opened up Region 11 play with a home match against Ridgeline High on September 13. It was an up and down match for the Lady Bears, but they ultimately fell to the Riverhawks, 3-1. Bear River lost the first two sets, 25-12 and 25-21, beating the Riverhawks in the third set, 25-22. But that was all Bear River had in them as they lost the fourth set, 25-9.
Rewatch the match against Ridgeline High thanks to Bear River Live on the links below.
Two days later the Lady Bears took to the road for another region matchup, this time against Sky View High in Smithfield on September 15. Bear River took home the loss as the Bobcats defeated them in three sets, 25-16, 25-13, 25-22.
Leading the night with 9 digs was Bird with junior Jurni Capener earning 7 digs of her own. Dahle had 5 digs and 5 kills while Adams had 4 kills, 2 aces and 3 digs. McDougal also had 2 aces against Sky View.
Up next for the Bear River High volleyball team is another home match, this time against Green Canyon High, on September 20, starting at 6:30 p.m. The Lady Bears will then travel to Logan High on September 22, with varsity set to start at 6 p.m.
Catch all the action live when the Lady Bears host Green Canyon on September 20, courtesy of Bear River Live on the link below.
Photos by John Fronk
