Published: Thursday, November 12, 2009
PREP VOLLEYBALL: Local squads seek upsets at state
Nine area schools sent teams to this week’s state volleyball championships.
The Class 4A, 3A and 2A tournaments are at the Toyota Center in Kennewick. The 1A, 2B and 1B tourneys are at the Yakima SunDome.
A few local squads are expected to contend for top honors, and others could pull off some upsets. Here is a closer look at the area’s state-bound teams:
Class 4A
Local qualifiers: Kamiak, Edmonds-Woodway and Jackson.
Tournament favorite: Mead of Spokane.
None of the local teams — all members of the Western Conference South Division — are picked to place among the top eight in the 16-team 4A tournament, according to Washington State Volleyball Coaches Association predictions.
Kamiak (15-2), which won the District 1 title, has the most momentum. The Knights, coached by Natalie Bowie, return to state after missing out last year. They placed fourth in 2007 and make their fifth state appearance since 1999.
Kamiak’s only loss since late September was a five-game defeat against South co-champion Jackson (16-3) on Oct. 22. After Jackson won just four matches in 2008, coach Erik Champoux guided the Timberwolves to their first state trip since 2004. Senior Christy Cain, a 6-foot-5 middle blocker, and freshman setter Haley MacDonald help lead Jackson.
Coached by Mike Pittis, district runner-up Edmonds-Woodway (13-4) has a first-round match against 2008 state champ Lewis & Clark of Spokane. Senior setter Leigh Fishback, a Bryant University recruit, is an E-W standout. The Warriors are at state for the third straight year. They did not place their past two trips.
Class 3A
Local qualifiers: Meadowdale and Everett.
Tournament favorite: Camas.
Meadowdale (12-5), led by fourth-year coach Machen Shrum, won its second straight district championship. Last year the Mavericks made their first-ever state trip, going 1-2 and not placing.
Serving (93 percent as a team) has been a major strength for Meadowdale, which averaged 10 aces per match at districts. And senior middle blocker Alexa Cannon (.441 hitting percentage in three district matches and seven block kills against Mount Vernon) is on a roll.
If unranked Meadowdale beats Columbia River (also unranked) in the first round, the Mavs could play No. 6 Blanchet in the quarterfinals.
Back at state for the first time since 2006, unranked Everett (11-7) hopes for a better showing this time. The Seagulls went 0-2 three years ago. Everett coach Heather McLeod (11th season) has an effective weapon in 6-foot junior Emily Liger, the only non-senior hitter on last year’s All-Wesco North first team.
Class 2A
Local qualifier: Archbishop Murphy.
Tournament favorite: Burlington-Edison.
There are striking similarities but also huge differences for Archbishop Murphy (16-1) this year. Carrying a 10-match win streak into its fourth consecutive state appearance, Murphy once again plays Grandview in the first round. Last year Grandview shocked Murphy, one of the 2008 2A favorites, and the Wildcats went two-and-out.
No. 2-ranked Murphy is also considered a contender this year and hopes to earn the second top-eight trophy in program history; the Wildcats took fifth in 2007. Murphy’s first-year head coach, Jeff Curtis, praised every player on his roster in an e-mail response.
“I am very fortunate to be able to coach such a fine group of young women,” he said. “They all need to be thanked for all of their dedication.”
Curtis highlighted the district-tourney play of senior Savannah Fletcher (19 blocks in three district matches), senior Becca Gotz (33 kills and “stellar” passing) and junior Rachel Peterson (34 kills, .467 hitting percentage).
Murphy, the Cascade Conference co-champion and District 1 winner, beat Burlington-Edison 3-2 in the district final. But state coaches predict B-E will prevail at state.
Class 1A
Local qualifier and tournament favorite: King’s.
The only team to beat Archbishop Murphy this season, King’s (16-3) seeks its second straight 1A state championship. The Knights, coached by Steve Bain (seventh season), are making their seventh straight state appearance and their eighth in nine seasons.
“It will take a total team effort for us to be successful at this year’s tournament,” said Bain, whose team plays unranked Lakeside in the first round and could battle No. 7 Lynden Christian in the quarterfinals.
King’s leaders are a pair of senior co-captains: setter Anna Cesari (Cascade Conference MVP) and hitter Dionna Kirton (all-conference first team).
Class 2B
Local qualifier: Darrington.
Tournament favorite: La Conner.
Darrington coach Greg Powell (21st season) said the lower half of the bracket is “loaded” — it includes No. 1 La Conner, No. 3 LaSalle and No. 4 Colfax (the 2008 state champ). Darrington (12-4), ranked No. 7, is in the seemingly more reasonable upper half, which is good news for the Loggers and their fans.
Making its 12th state appearance (including five top-eight trophies) since 1994, Darrington has five of the six starters who played at state last year. The leading Loggers are Hailey Wales (164 kills, 95 blocks), Caresse Baker (147 kills, 129 digs) and Jessica Brooks (84 blocks).
Darrington’s first-round foe is unranked Kittitas.
Class 1B
Local qualifier and tournament favorite: North Sound Christian.
This might be the year top-ranked North Sound Christian of Mountlake Terrace breaks through and snares a top-eight trophy. Competing at state for the third straight year, North Sound went 1-2 in its past two trips and did not place.
North Sound (16-2) has unranked Colton in the first round and could play No. 4 Wilson Creek in the quarterfinals.
Mike Cane: mcane@heraldnet.com. Check out the prep sports blog Double Team at www.heraldnet.com/doubleteam.
The Class 4A, 3A and 2A tournaments are at the Toyota Center in Kennewick. The 1A, 2B and 1B tourneys are at the Yakima SunDome.
A few local squads are expected to contend for top honors, and others could pull off some upsets. Here is a closer look at the area’s state-bound teams:
Class 4A
Local qualifiers: Kamiak, Edmonds-Woodway and Jackson.
Tournament favorite: Mead of Spokane.
None of the local teams — all members of the Western Conference South Division — are picked to place among the top eight in the 16-team 4A tournament, according to Washington State Volleyball Coaches Association predictions.
Kamiak (15-2), which won the District 1 title, has the most momentum. The Knights, coached by Natalie Bowie, return to state after missing out last year. They placed fourth in 2007 and make their fifth state appearance since 1999.
Kamiak’s only loss since late September was a five-game defeat against South co-champion Jackson (16-3) on Oct. 22. After Jackson won just four matches in 2008, coach Erik Champoux guided the Timberwolves to their first state trip since 2004. Senior Christy Cain, a 6-foot-5 middle blocker, and freshman setter Haley MacDonald help lead Jackson.
Coached by Mike Pittis, district runner-up Edmonds-Woodway (13-4) has a first-round match against 2008 state champ Lewis & Clark of Spokane. Senior setter Leigh Fishback, a Bryant University recruit, is an E-W standout. The Warriors are at state for the third straight year. They did not place their past two trips.
Class 3A
Local qualifiers: Meadowdale and Everett.
Tournament favorite: Camas.
Meadowdale (12-5), led by fourth-year coach Machen Shrum, won its second straight district championship. Last year the Mavericks made their first-ever state trip, going 1-2 and not placing.
Serving (93 percent as a team) has been a major strength for Meadowdale, which averaged 10 aces per match at districts. And senior middle blocker Alexa Cannon (.441 hitting percentage in three district matches and seven block kills against Mount Vernon) is on a roll.
If unranked Meadowdale beats Columbia River (also unranked) in the first round, the Mavs could play No. 6 Blanchet in the quarterfinals.
Back at state for the first time since 2006, unranked Everett (11-7) hopes for a better showing this time. The Seagulls went 0-2 three years ago. Everett coach Heather McLeod (11th season) has an effective weapon in 6-foot junior Emily Liger, the only non-senior hitter on last year’s All-Wesco North first team.
Class 2A
Local qualifier: Archbishop Murphy.
Tournament favorite: Burlington-Edison.
There are striking similarities but also huge differences for Archbishop Murphy (16-1) this year. Carrying a 10-match win streak into its fourth consecutive state appearance, Murphy once again plays Grandview in the first round. Last year Grandview shocked Murphy, one of the 2008 2A favorites, and the Wildcats went two-and-out.
No. 2-ranked Murphy is also considered a contender this year and hopes to earn the second top-eight trophy in program history; the Wildcats took fifth in 2007. Murphy’s first-year head coach, Jeff Curtis, praised every player on his roster in an e-mail response.
“I am very fortunate to be able to coach such a fine group of young women,” he said. “They all need to be thanked for all of their dedication.”
Curtis highlighted the district-tourney play of senior Savannah Fletcher (19 blocks in three district matches), senior Becca Gotz (33 kills and “stellar” passing) and junior Rachel Peterson (34 kills, .467 hitting percentage).
Murphy, the Cascade Conference co-champion and District 1 winner, beat Burlington-Edison 3-2 in the district final. But state coaches predict B-E will prevail at state.
Class 1A
Local qualifier and tournament favorite: King’s.
The only team to beat Archbishop Murphy this season, King’s (16-3) seeks its second straight 1A state championship. The Knights, coached by Steve Bain (seventh season), are making their seventh straight state appearance and their eighth in nine seasons.
“It will take a total team effort for us to be successful at this year’s tournament,” said Bain, whose team plays unranked Lakeside in the first round and could battle No. 7 Lynden Christian in the quarterfinals.
King’s leaders are a pair of senior co-captains: setter Anna Cesari (Cascade Conference MVP) and hitter Dionna Kirton (all-conference first team).
Class 2B
Local qualifier: Darrington.
Tournament favorite: La Conner.
Darrington coach Greg Powell (21st season) said the lower half of the bracket is “loaded” — it includes No. 1 La Conner, No. 3 LaSalle and No. 4 Colfax (the 2008 state champ). Darrington (12-4), ranked No. 7, is in the seemingly more reasonable upper half, which is good news for the Loggers and their fans.
Making its 12th state appearance (including five top-eight trophies) since 1994, Darrington has five of the six starters who played at state last year. The leading Loggers are Hailey Wales (164 kills, 95 blocks), Caresse Baker (147 kills, 129 digs) and Jessica Brooks (84 blocks).
Darrington’s first-round foe is unranked Kittitas.
Class 1B
Local qualifier and tournament favorite: North Sound Christian.
This might be the year top-ranked North Sound Christian of Mountlake Terrace breaks through and snares a top-eight trophy. Competing at state for the third straight year, North Sound went 1-2 in its past two trips and did not place.
North Sound (16-2) has unranked Colton in the first round and could play No. 4 Wilson Creek in the quarterfinals.
Mike Cane: mcane@heraldnet.com. Check out the prep sports blog Double Team at www.heraldnet.com/doubleteam.
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