Bulldogs sweep Moses Lake

MOSES LAKE - Moses Lake fell into an early deficit Thursday night against the visiting Pasco Bulldogs and could regroup as the Chiefs fell in three games.

Pasco swept Moses Lake to earn the Columbia Basin League victory.

Following the loss, head coach Amy Utter said her team didn't play united.

"We just didn't play very well as a team tonight," she said. "We had some great plays individually."

Moses Lake got off to a lethargic start Thursday night and could not pick up the pace, Utter said.

"Normally we are a fiery, energetic team," she said. "We seemed to have lost that energy tonight."

The Chiefs tried to get back into the match but couldn't take advantage of Pasco's mistakes.

"We had our opportunities to win games and get up into position to win the match," she said. "We just didn't capitalize on those opportunities."

Utter was frustrated with the loss but is confident her team will bounce back next Thursday when they travel to Eisenhower to take on the Cadets.

"I started letting them speak first," she said. "They are good volleyball players, they are a good team."

The Chiefs do not play again until Oct. 9.

"We have an incredible amount of time off," she said. "We can regroup and kind of get back on track. Normally in a volleyball season you don't get that."

Utter said her team needs to become more patient and protect the ball.

"We need to work on consistency," she said. "We need to take care of the ball."

The Chiefs are working to improve, but Utter said it is difficult simulate games in practice.

"It's hard in practice to create game-like situations," she said. "We need to put pressure on them individually to do what they know how to do."

Shelby Gonzales led the Chiefs with seven kills and seven digs. Iesha Garza also added seven kills and had 10 digs.

Markie Fancher led Moses Lake with 19 assists and Heidi Smith added 18 digs. Kaydren Dunkin had six kills in the loss.