Savage Heat grounds Two Eagle

The Hot Springs varsity volleyball team lived up to its banner in the school gymnasium - "Cage the Eagles" - and swept the Eagles at the Hot Springs homecoming game Saturday night.

The Hot Springs Lady Savage Heat picked up their fourth victory this season by winning all three games against the Two Eagle River School Eagles 25-7, 25-8 and 25-4.

"They did a great job. Our starters held the intensity even with our subs in," said Taylor Salmi, head coach for the Savage Heat. "I'm pretty proud of them," she added. The Hot Springs girls have four wins and three losses. The Eagles of Pablo have lost all seven of their games this season, according to coach Rachel Red Fox. No junior varsity game was played because the Lady Eagles do not have a JV team.

The Eagles started strong in the first bout by taking the first three points. However, Hot Springs quickly took the lead at 5-4, never to lose it, allowing the Lady Eagles only three more points in the game. Sophomore Callie Cano sealed the deal with a spike.

The Lady Savage Heat began game two with four in a row before Two Eagle River could get on the board, but Hot Springs never allowed them to get to double digits. Hot Springs again began the third game by taking the first three points. They never allowed their opponents more than four points and won the game with a Lady Eagle net serve.

Kara Christensen was one of Lady Savage Heat's top scorers, but the team's sole senior, Lauryn Aldridge, was the top scorer with six kills and eight aces, seven of those in a row, said Salmi, who has served as head coach for just a year, but prior was the team's assistant coach for 12 years. She is assisted by Maria Begger. Brooke Jackson had 13 assists for the night. The team had five digs and two blocks, but from different players.

"I felt like it was a real team win. Erica Cannon (sophomore) really stepped up for us though during a last minute lineup change," she said. "We successfully served over 90%; our goal is 95%," said Salmi, who added that she wants to perfect the team's rotation. Salmi played volleyball for Hot Springs all four years in high school.

The next game for the Lady Savage Heat is Thursday, Sept. 28, against the Lady Tigers at St. Regis with the junior varsity game at 4:30 p.m. and the varsity game at 6 p.m. The Lady Savage Heat face the Noxon Red Devils at Hot Springs on Saturday, Sept. 30, with the JV at 4:30 p.m. and varsity at 6 p.m.