TONASKET – Mayte Ortega’s serves were brutal (12 aces), Amber Allen and Cierra Silverthorn were tenacious in registering multiple kills and the Lady Tigers started to play fairly even, overcoming a 21-25 first game defeat before going on to take the next three games (25-15, 25-11 and 25-11) against Cashmere Sept. 19.

Jessica Kitterman was nine of 12 serving with two aces.

“After the (first game) loss the girls started serving with better ball control – which was good, we had several good set spikes for kills and Cashmere could not recover,” Tonasket coach Nellie Kirk said.

“We were there to play, but we just kind of started off back and forth.”

But the good habits didn’t last long against a talented Okanogan team as Tonasket got swept on the Lady Bulldogs home court (20-25, 16-25 and 23-25).

“There was no intensity,” Kirk said. “we didn’t play well.”

“Volleyball requires a lot of commitment from the players. They have to play together and work as a team no matter what else is going on.”

In the Sept. 20 loss to Okanogan, Amanda Bradburn was perfect with nine of nine serving, with two kills. Stacia Nixon had three kills and Amber Allen was nine of thirteen serving with two kills.

And traveling to Cascade on Saturday, the Lady Tigers put up a valiant effort against the Lady Kodiaks in game three (23-25) after Cascade made quick work of Tonasket in games one (17-25) and two (13-25).

Nixon was perfect with 11 of 11 serving; Allen converted nine of 10 serves with seven kills and Silverthorn connected for eight of nine serving with two kills.

“We played with good attitude and team effort,” Kirk said. “We had some good plays.” Amber had a couple of great blocks and hits. And the team was playing with intention.

“Cascade is a good, tough team. They have a lot of offensive skills.”

Tonasket (2 wins, 3 losses overall) faced off against Lake Roosevelt in Coulee Dam on Tuesday and hosts Chelan beginning at 5:30 p.m. today.

The Lady Tigers travel to Spokane and the Connell Invitational on Saturday.