Finally road warriors, Chiefs win at Ike

YAKIMA - Well, well, well, the Moses Lake High School Chiefs

volleyball team shook its allergy just in the nick of time.

Struggling all year to win on the road in Big 9 play, with only

one win at league cellar dwellers, Davis, the Chiefs had a chance

to breakthrough last night against a competitive Eisenhower club in

Yakima.

YAKIMA - Well, well, well, the Moses Lake High School Chiefs volleyball team shook its allergy just in the nick of time.

Struggling all year to win on the road in Big 9 play, with only one win at league cellar dwellers, Davis, the Chiefs had a chance to breakthrough last night against a competitive Eisenhower club in Yakima.

After losing the first set, Moses Lake decided it was time to get down to business.

When the dust settled, the Chiefs came home after a dinner stop at Miner's Drive-In, a 3-1 (24-26, 25-15, 25-15, 25-15) winner and with a large shot of momentum heading into the last week of regular season matches.

The win was their second in six matches on the Big 9 road.

"Just because we've had such a hard time on the road we knew we had to get it done," Chiefs senior middle blocked Kayla Bernsen said. "We knew we had the potential to win and we just brought it. It is good for our team morale that we can win on the road against any team."

Bernsen not only brought it, she set the table, served up the meal, and devoured it.

Unfortunately for Eisenhower, they were the main course.

Bernsen finished with 31 kills to go along with her nine digs, five blocks and four aces.

"I made a fair amount of mistakes too, but there was one spot they weren't covering and I just took advantage of it over and over again," Bernsen said. "The team did incredibly well and it was the best we've done passing, setting, serving. Everyone did so good tonight."

Moses Lake (7-11, 5-5) also did a better job of overcoming a dramatic loss in a set with more match left to play.

"We just did not play with a lot of energy in the first set but then we picked it up in a hurry and did a good job of getting Eisenhower on its heels and back peddle them a bit," Chiefs head coach Amy Utter said. "I know they had it in them to regroup and that they did it this late in the season is a good sign for us. Win or lose a set, we have to regroup and go again and it was fun to watch. When you win it makes it even better."

Kaydren Dunkin added 12 kills, four digs and two blocks, while Markie Fancher finished with 25 assists and 22 digs, while their Chiefs teammate Kenzie Fancher added 20 assists and 11 digs.

Taylor Sonnenberg helped spark a stellar Moses Lake defense with 29 digs herself while Mindy Robins chipped in with 15 digs.

"We got to a lot of balls," Utter said. "We were just digging balls. We have been just working on effort to every ball this week and obviously it's working. We just digged and digged and digged and that wears the other team out a little bit."

Now with Walla Walla and Davis at home next week to wrap up the Big 9 slate, the team hopes to secure at least a top three spot and host a first-round loser out match the following week.

"I am confident that we can host as long as we take care of what we need to take care," Utter said. "If we do, we are set and everything will shake out."