With the state volleyball playoffs getting underway this weekend, the Hot Springs Savage Heat will come into the post-season with a 3-0 sweep at home over Victor this past week hopefully giving them some playoff momentum. 

The Heat, who concluded the regular season with a 5-10 overall record, won two of their last three games. 

Against Victor, 1-6 on the year, the first set was a nail-biter that featured numerous ties and lead changes.  The opening set was last tied at 23 before Hot Springs was able to score two straight points and pull out a 25-23 set win that staked them to a 1-0 match lead. 

Victor put up a good fight throughout the match, including the second set. After falling behind early, the Lady Pirates rallied from a 6-2 deficit to tie the set at 8-8. 

Hot Springs broke away from a mid-set 12-12 tie and slowly began to increase their lead, outscoring the visitors 7-1 to take a 24-17 lead en route to a 25-18 set victory and a 2-0 match advantage. 

The Lady Heat then opened a narrow lead in the third set and held leads of no more than four points before eventually shaking the Pirates on their way to a 25-21 win that clinched the 3-0 match sweep. 

Senior Brooke Jackson had a solid game for the Lady Heat, leading the team in assists with 20 and digs with eight.  Teammate Georgia Uski also led the team in two categories, racking up four service aces and tying for the team lead in kill shots with four, the same as Kara Christensen and Lanet Jakabosky, who led the team with two blocked shots. 

The Heat will next take part in the Western 13C District tournament this weekend at Skagit College in Pablo.