With a three-game sweep of Auburn Riverside on Monday, the Tahoma volleyball team is in control of the South Puget Sound League North division.

This Tahoma team looked different from the one that played a five game marathon two weeks ago against Kentlake in its last contest on its home court.

Tayler Schroeder, the libero and a senior co-captain, attributed it to better preparation.

“We’ve gotten more motivated at practice to get first in our league,” Schroeder said. “We don’t even want to chance it and go five. We just want to finish it.”

In previous matches, explained Tahoma coach Sally Eager, the Bears would come out strong but then falter in the third game.

Auburn Riverside was in first place in the North heading into the match, having not dropped a game in league, either. With four matches remaining it is possible the winner of this contest could win the division.

The Ravens never let up but the Bears were able to get out to a two game lead, winning the first two games 25-23 and 25-21, but Tahoma had been here before against Kentlake.

“I told them after the second game, ‘We have a bad habit … of forgetting how to pass in the third game. Let’s go out and make this our best game. Let’s finish it,’” Eager said.

And her players listened.

Setter Miranda Grieser started out game three with an ace.

But, then it was a back and forth battle as Auburn Riverside tried to get back into the match.

Tahoma experienced some errors in the third game that let Auburn Riverside hang around.

Up 20-15, the Bears gave up three straight points to the Ravens on service and defensive errors.

That’s when sophomore outside hitter Rachelle Frets stepped up, scoring Tahoma’s last three points, two on kills and putting the match away with an ace.

“Rachelle came through in the end with her serves,” Eager said.

Schroeder said that despite the errors, the fact they were able to finish the match in three shows growth for the team.

“I feel like we are playing a lot sharper,” Schroeder said. “I think we’re taking practice more seriously. We need to continue to keep practicing hard and to try and remember what our goal is (to win the division).”

Before the game began, Tahoma broke its team huddle by yelling “Intensity!”

Eager said she was glad to see her squad play with that thought in mind.

“The level of intensity is getting there,” she said. “They’re starting to gel as a team. It was really nice to see our passing improve.”

What was significant in this win, Eager added, was they were going to more than just their power hitters Morgan Murrey and Frets.

“It’s the most balanced we’ve played,” Eager said. “I think that’s the key difference.”

Murrey had 10 kills and 14 digs while Frets had 19 kills and six aces.

Next up for Tahoma is Kentridge at home on Wednesday, after the Reporter’s press deadline, then the squad travels to Auburn and Mount Rainier to wrap up the regular season.

“There is no off night in our league,” Eager said. “You can’t look past anybody.”

Schroeder said there were some good things to take away and some lessons learned from the win over Auburn Riverside.

“One thing we need to work on is our stamina,” Schroeder said. “We also need to communicate better. Overall, though, this was our best game getting pumped up, not getting frustrated with each other and staying positive.”