Bainbridge spiked fourth-ranked Seattle Prep 3-1 Monday in volleyball.
The Spartans won at home, 25-15, 25-19, 21-25, 25-15.
The big win followed last week’s disappointing loss to Bishop Blanchet on the road.
“They played pretty well,” Spartan Coach Julie Miller said of her team. “It was a good bounce-back win after playing so poorly at Blanchet.”
Bainbridge played tough from the start, and jumped to a five-point advantage in the first game that left the Panthers chasing in pursuit.
The closest Seattle Prep came was 17-13, but Bainbridge bounced back to score the next three points.
In the second, Bainbridge led until Prep tied it at 17-all. The Spartans regained their composure, however, and built a three-point advantage before putting the Panthers away.
In the third game and Prep’s only win, the Panthers amassed a huge lead only to have Bainbridge pull tantalizingly close at the end. Miller said that only a few mistakes in the third game prevented Bainbridge from a clean sweep.
The coach said the Spartans stayed on task for the fourth game.
“We talked about trying to keep them 15 points or below and playing like every single point mattered,” Miller said. “I think they really did that and brought a lot of great energy into it.”
“I thought Emma Burgess was huge. She got a lot of balls, and she passed really well,” she added.
Miller said the Spartans switched their service a little bit, and Burgess was crucial in the change-up.
“She really rose to the occasion and tried to pass a lot of balls so we could run the plays that we wanted to run.”
Burgess led the Spartans with 21 digs.
Teammate Hannah Wagner added nine digs and 10 kills, while Erin Kinney finished with five digs and eight kills.
Lauren Sheehan contributed eight digs, 18 kills and three aces, while Maggie Haskin added 31 assists and five digs for the Spartans.
The victory put the Spartans at the top of the Metro League with Seattle Prep; both teams are 5-2. (Bainbridge is 8-3 overall, while Seattle Prep stands at 8-2.)
Bainbridge, now ranked at No. 7 in 3A teams in Washington, returns to Seattle Wednesday for a matchup against Holy Names Academy (2-5 Metro League, 5-6 overall).
Despite the Cougars’ current position at the bottom of the Metro League standings, the Spartans aren’t looking past Holy Names.
“Holy Names is always tough at home. Their gym is small and it’s loud,” Miller said.
“My expectations are that we go in and try to win in three, but be ready to battle in five,” she said.
