PREP VOLLEYBALL ROUNDUP: Granite Falls earns crucial win

Published 11:19 pm Tuesday, October 13, 2009

GRANITE FALLS — In a crucial match for two volleyball teams vying for the all-important third berth in the 2A district playoffs, Granite Falls swept Lakewood 3-0 Tuesday night.

“It was a big win for us,” Granite Falls coach Mark Neuman said. “If we can take care of business the rest of the way, it will give us an opportunity to get third. It was a (match) we had to have.”

The 25-18, 25-18, 25-17 sweep was quite a reversal from the teams’ previous meeting which Lakewood won in five games.

“Our setter Breanna White stepped up huge for us,” Neuman said.

The 5-foot-1 sophomore was playing in her first extended action of the season and led the way with 27 assists. Many of those ended up at the hands of junior Monesa Moore, who pounded 16 kills for the Tigers (4-6 league. 4-6 overall).

In the Cougars’ earlier victory, outside hitter Hayley Liebel had her way with the Granite Falls defense with more than 20 kills. Neuman said that containing her was one of the keys this time. Junior Ericka Smith led the Tiger defense with 14 digs to go with her six kills.

Lakewood (3-7, 3-7) jumped out to six-point leads early in the first two games, but the Tigers roared back thanks to their serving. Sophomore Kacie Hillery was perfect all night from the service line and put down three aces to turn the tables on the Cougars.

Archbishop Murphy 3, Coupeville 0: At Everett, Archbishop Murphy (9-1 league and overall) got the Cascade Conference victory by scores of 25-13, 25-9 and 25-16. Becca Gotz had 13 kills, five aces and 13 digs; Savannah Fletcher had six kills, five blocks and three aces; Megan Carlson had five kills, three blocks and two aces, and Dani Baehm had 28 assists and five aces for the Wildcats. Coupeville (5-5, 6-5) was led by Julie Swankie (12 assists) and Jessica Riddle (six digs).

South Whidbey 3, Sultan 0: At Sultan, South Whidbey won 25-4, 25-8, 25-8 in the Cascade Conference match. South Whidbey is now 7-3 in league, 7-3 overall, Sultan 0-10, 0-10. For South Whidbey, Allison Wood had 10 kills and eight aces, Brittany Wood had seven aces and Cayla Calderwood had five kills.

King’s 3, Cedarcrest 0: At Duvall, King’s (10-0 league and overall) took the Cascade Conference match over Cedarcrest (2-8. 2-8) by scores of 25-16, 25-10 and 25-12. Dionna Kirton had 13 kills, Joclyn Kirton had nine kills and Anna Cesari had 30 assists and three aces for the Knights.

Jackson 3, Lynnwood 0: At Mill Creek, Jackson won the Wesco South match in straight sets, 25-20, 25-14, 25-9. Emmy Allen had 14 kills, Haley MacDonald had 26 assists and Leigh-Ann Haataja had 12 digs and seven aces to lead the Timberwolves (3-1 league, 8-1 overall). Mokun Fajemisin (seven kills and three blocks) and Apol Thomaier (five kills and three blocks) led Lynnwood (0-4, 5-4).

Shorecrest 3, Mariner 0: At Shoreline, Kelley Bayern totalled 17 digs and Elisa Ahern and Marina Stoermer combined for 17 kills, leading Shorecrest 25-20, 32-30, 25-18 past Mariner. Katelyn Kelly had 40 digs, Anny Bui had nine kills and 12 digs, and Nicole Leach had eight kills for Mariner (0-4 in league, 0-9 overall). Shorecrest is now 2-2, 4-5 in the Wesco South.

Mountlake Terrace 3, Shorewood 0: At Mountlake Terrace, Mountlake Terrace remained undefeated in Wesco South play, sweeping Shorewood 25-12, 25-23, 25-17. The Hawks (4-0 league, 5-4 overall) had a game-high 19 assists from Chrysandra Dresser and eight kills from Sara Drew. Stephanie McGee led the Terrace defense with 24 digs. Maddie Welsh and Dana Brindle shared the Shorewood kill lead with five. Laura Postor added 11 digs in the losing effort for Shorewood (1-3, 3-6).

Meadowdale 3, Glacier Peak 1: At Lynnwood, the Mavericks kept pace with Kamiak at the top of the Wesco South with a victory in four games over Glacier Peak. Meadowdale (4-0 league, 7-2 overall) got 16 digs and nine kills from Lindsey Milner and 27 assists from Megan Nelson. Glacier Peak (0-4, 1-8) was led by Olivia VanDlac, who tallied a game-high 17 kills to go with 15 digs. Maddi Ober had eight kills and Taylor Rasmussen chipped in 14 digs for the Grizzlies.

Darrington 3, Orcas Island 1: At Darrington, after jumping out to a 2-0 lead (25-22, 25-9) Darrington dropped the third game 20-25 before prevailing in the fourth game (25-7) and winning the Northwest 1A/2B contest. Hailey Wales had eight kills and eight blocks while her twin sister Randi Wales added six kills and three service aces for the Loggers (6-2 in league, 8-2 overall). Orcas Island fell to 2-5, 3-6.

Shoreline Christian 3, Friday Harbor 0: At Friday Harbor, Shoreline Christian’s Laura Kredit had 11 kills, Megan Bauman had 10 kills and nine digs and Anne Marie Spencer had 22 assists in the 29-27, 25-19, 25-18 Northwest 1A/2B win. Shoreline is now 5-2 in league, 7-2 overall, and Friday Harbor dropped to 1-6, 1-9.

Lopez Island 3, Providence Classical Christian 1: At Lynnwood, after losing a close first game 25-22, the Lobos cruised through the next three 25-19, 25-19, 25-21 to take the Northwest 1B match. Lopez Island’s (6-0 league, 6-1 overall) top performers were not reported. PCC (0-6, 0-6) was paced by Rachael Grotte, who had 11 Aces and eight assists. Janis Freeman led the way in kills with nine for the Highlanders to go with two blocks.

Grace Academy 3, Skykomish 1: At Marysville, Grace Academy (5-3 league, 5-7 overall) defeated Skykomish (3-5, 4-5) in the Northwest 1B match by scores 25-19, 22-25, 25-18 and 25-9. For Grace Academy, Katie Mittlestaedt had 14 kills, Lauren Krumm had 10 kills and six aces and Hannah Krumm had nine aces and five kills.