For the Hot Springs Lady Savage Heat volleyball team, this has been an uncharacteristically tough season.

So, when one of their volleyball rivals came to town this past Tuesday, it was a chance to put the season behind them and focus on the task at hand. 

That is what the Lady Savage Heat did as they battled St. Regis’ Lady Tigers and came away with a hard-fought, much-needed 3-1 match win. 

Three days later, the Heat took the long drive to Philipsburg where they ran into the Lady Prospectors and were swept, 3-0. 

Despite that setback, the Lady Heat were likely still reveling in their win over St. Regis. 

The Heat came out fast in the opening set against the Lady Tigers and built an early lead on their way to a convincing 25-12 win and a 1-0 match edge. 

Hot Springs kept up the pressure in the second set in which St. Regis fought back.  The Lady Heat opened a lead mid-set and held off the determined Lady Tigers on their way to a 25-17 set two victory and a 2-0 match lead. 

In the usually pivotal third set, St. Regis regrouped and came out determined to keep the match alive, which they did with a 25-18 win that trimmed the Lady Heat’s match advantage to 2-1. 

Fortunately for the Lady Heat, they were able to basically duplicate the results of the first set, taking an early lead and fighting off all St. Regis comeback hopes as they wrapped up the match with a 25-12 set four victory. 

Senior Brooke Jackson had an outstanding match for the Heat, leading the team in assists with 18 and digs with 16.  She was joined as a double statistical leader by teammate Kara Christensen who topped Hot Springs with 15 kill shots and three blocks as the Heat mostly controlled the action in front of the net. 

Christensen also shared the team lead in service aces with four, along with Georgia Uski and Lanet Jakobosky. 

Even though they were swept Saturday by Philipsburg, the Heat fought hard throughout the match at Granite County High. 

In that match, Hot Springs overcame an early Prospectors lead and tied the opening set at 16.  However, the home team was able to regroup and slowly pull ahead the rest of the set on their way to a 25-19 win that staked them to a 1-0 match advantage. 

Hot Springs held a one-point lead in the second set, 5-4 but could not hold it as Philipsburg tied the score, then quickly built a ten-point advantage which they maintained en route to a 25-12 set win and a 2-0 match lead. 

As they have all season, the Lady Heat fought hard in the third and deciding set, pulling to within three points in the latter stages of the set before the Prospectors were able to seal a 25-20 win and complete the 3-0 sweep. 

The loss dropped the Lady Heat to 4-10 on the year with one game left in the regular season, a match against Victor this Thursday (Oct 24) in Hot Springs. 

The Heat will then await their seeding for the Western District 13C tournament November 1-2 at Skagit College in Pablo.