Sydney Backer (1) and Madie Dowell (5) celebrate a West Albany point. (Photo by Ed McReynolds)

If West Albany’s volleyball team had any doubts about how its new pieces would fit together this year, they have been answered in the first month of the season.

The Bulldogs, who replaced four starters, are off to an impressive 10-0 start that includes a three-set sweep of Mid-Willamtte Conference rival Corvallis, the reigning 5A champion. West Albany was voted No. 1 in the latest OSAAtoday 5A coaches poll.

“We’ve got some young kids that are learning and picking things up pretty quick,” coach Kelli Backer said. “My seniors have done a great job of leading and my young kids have stepped up and filled those big voids really well.”

West Albany reached the semifinals last season before falling to Ridgeview 3-1. If the Bulldogs had won, they would played in the final against Corvallis, which beat them in two hard-fought conference matches last season.

That missed opportunity stuck with many of the returning players, so when they played at Corvallis on Sept. 10, they were more than ready. West Albany won 25-12, 26-24, 25-12.

“They’ve been on a mission since we started this season back in August,” Backer said. “I think they just had that taste of, ‘We’re going to get Corvallis,’ since November of last year. They came in focused. Our block was on, our defense was on. Our passing, we had phenomenal offense. I think Corvallis was a little stunned.”

Junior Madie Dowell had 13 kills and junior Hannah Stadstad and sophomore Brooke Rogers added eight kills apiece in the win over the Spartans. The blocking of the 5-foot-11 Stadstad and 5-11 junior Bella Marsh helped neutralize Corvallis’ dangerous attack, which features seniors Ryann Gregg and Nevaeh Bray.

The Spartans, ranked second, visit West Albany on Oct. 15.

“I’m sure we sparked them a little bit,” Backer said. “I don’t think we’ve beaten them in three on their home floor. I would expect the next time we see them, they’re going to be coming after us.”

Stadstad, a southpaw and right-side hitter, leads the team with 87 kills and has 25 blocks.

“She’s confident this year,” Backer said. “She’s come in with a whole new attitude. She’s getting it done with her block and her hitting. Lefties are hard to defend.”

Dowell and Rogers have 69 and 65 kills, respectively. Sophomore Gracie Boeder (28 blocks) and Marsh (24 blocks) have helped make up for the graduation of all-league middle blocker Alexis Chapman, who now plays at Linn-Benton Community College. And 5-4 senior Sydney Backer, a third-year starter at libero, has sparked the team with a defensive toughness.

“She’s been the heart and soul, and that has inspired my team to be a little bit more defensive-minded,” Kelli Backer said of her youngest daughter. “We have a front-row defense, which we really haven’t had the last couple years.”

Elijah Sanders, a 5-10 junior, has taken over at setter. She is averaging 8.6 assists per set.

“She’s running a pretty quick offense for us,” Kelli Backer said. “It’s been fun to watch her take over. She’s been kind of sitting and waiting her turn.”

The Bulldogs have been winning with balance.

“The nice thing about this team is we have so many weapons,” Kelli Backer said. “Any one of them can step up at any time. It’s not been the same girl from night to night.”

West Albany went 4-0 in the Central Catholic Tournament on Sept. 7 – defeating four 6A teams – and will get tested again Saturday in the State Preview Tournament at the Albany Boys & Girls Club.