SANDPOINT — The Bulldogs welcomed back junior Liv Owens with a win as Sandpoint defeated Kellogg at home on Les Rogers Court, 25-17, 27-25 and 25-21.

The Wildcats played tough, but Sandpoint coach Karen Alsager said her Bulldogs came to play with passion and drive.

"Anytime Liv got the ball was [a key play]," Alsager said. "It was just passionate for our team, because we're so excited to have her back on the court. So for the most part, she was the biggest part of what we did tonight."

With the Bulldogs playing in a higher division, Alsager said Sandpoint should have won — and did win — the game, they just weren't as disciplined as she would have liked.

"There were some good things, but still there are those areas of concern that I have, that we don't come through in the key moments as I would have liked us to," she added.

The Bulldogs stormed out to an early lead in the first set, thanks to five consecutive aces by Hailey Roeder. That pushed Sandpoint to an early 10-3 lead before Kellogg was able to pull within five after a break in the action.

But strong serving by Roeder, Vivian Platte and Aubree Lane shut down the Wildcats' push and put Sandpoint at match point. While Kellogg was able to score a point following an extended rally, the Wildcats' serve went long to give the Bulldogs the first set.

The Wildcats jumped to a 3-0 lead at the start of the second set and were able to take a 6-3 lead before Sandpoint whittled the lead away to tie the game at 6.

Kellogg managed to eke out a 8-6 lead before Sandpoint tied it up again. The teams traded points, with Kellogg grabbing a slim lead on several occasions but the Bulldogs were able to battle back each time.

With the set knotted up at 21, it was Sandpoint's turn to take a slim two-point lead, going up 24-21. However, a timeout settled down the Wildcats and they battled back to tie the set at 24, and then take a one-point lead, 25-24.

The Bulldogs regrouped following a timeout and peeled off three consecutive points to win the set, 27-25, causing the bench to leap to their feet and erupt in cheers.

Swaim led the Bulldogs to an 8-0 lead to start the third set. However, a determined Kellogg team chipped away at Sandpoint's lead to pull within three, 12-9. That would be as close as the Wildcats would get as Roeder, Haley McAuliffe and Swaim teamed up to pull the Bulldogs within match point.

After a timeout by the Wildcats, Sandpoint took advantage of a drifting ball over the net to set up Owens. While it was her first time on the volleyball court after tearing ligaments last year during a basketball game, Owens hammered the ball past Kellogg to give the Bulldogs the set and the win.

Leading the Bulldogs in kills were Vivian Platte and Aubree Lane, each with seven. Owens added five kills and had no hitting errors for Sandpoint.

Lane continued her defensive onslaught with 16 digs.

"This team loves each other. They play well together. They were so supportive of Liv Owens getting in tonight," Alsager said. "They were all very excited to have her on the court. This group is a family."